L  I  E)  R_A  FLY 

OF  THE 

U  N  IVERS  ITY 

Of    ILLINOIS 


K74p 

cop.  2.  j 

IIONOIS  HISWRirai  5linvrY 


iUi/<Olii  HISiOKY  Su.tvty 
LIBRARY 


ff 


THE 


PRIVATE  JOURNAL 


OF   A 


f ouvnfjj  from  §05it(m  to  "^m  IJovli 


'X 


IN 


THE  YEAR  1704. 


KEPT  BY 


MADAM    KNIGHT 


ALBANY : 

FRANK    IT.    LITTLE 

1865. 


]So.  __■ , 


t^.  /f 


TirUEE   HUNDRED   COPIES  PRINTED,   OF  WHICH 
FIFTY   ARE  ON  LARGE  PAPER. 


MUNSELL,  PRINTER, 
ALBANY. 


PREFACE. 


In  the  month  of  October,  1704,  Madam  Sarah 
Knight  traveled  on  horseback  from  Boston  to 
New  Haven.  She  contmued  her  journey  to 
New  York  in  the  following  December,  and  after 
staving  there  two  weeks  returned  to  New  Haven, 
and  thence  in  March  to  Boston.  Dudng  this 
time  she  kept  a  journal,  which  was  for  many 
years  preserved  among  her  descendants,  but  now 
is  believed  to  be  lost.  This  journal  was  j^ublished 
in  New  York  in  1825,  and  in  the  introduction  to 
that  edition  it  is  stated  that  "  the  original  or- 
thography has  been  carefully  preserved."  The 
present  edition  is  an  exact  reprint  of  the  former, 
including  the  introduction,  with  the  addition  of 
a  few  notes. 

Madam    Sarah   Knight  was  born  April  19, 
ICGC.     She  was  the  daughter  of  Capt.  Thomas 


IV  PREFACE. 

Kemble,  a  merchant  of  Boston,  and  of  Elizabeth 
Trarice,  his  wife.^  He  was  a  native  of  Great 
Britain,  and  resided  in  Charlestown  as  early  as 
1651,  and  for  several  years  afterwards.^  For 
'>   «k  many  years  he  was  an  attorney  or  agent  of  Mr. 

Robert  Rich,  a  merchant  of  London.^  He  had 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  John,  a  cooper  or 
carpentei:,  died  in  New  York,  and  by  a  will  made 
in  1695,  gave  his  lands  and  houses  to  his  wife 
for  her  life,  then  to  Madam  Knight  for  her  life, 
and  then  to  her  daughter.^ 

Before  the  birth  of  Sarah,  Capt.  Kemble  had 
moved  to  Boston;  and  there  in  1676  he  built  a 
"  large  house  on  the  easterly  side  of  Moon  street, 
corner  of  Moon  street  court,  about  half  way  from 
Sun  Court  street  to  Fleet  street.  The  house  was 
demolished  in  1832,  or  soon  after,  and  a  tobacco 
warehouse  erected,  which  has  now  been  con- 

1  Savage's  Oenealogical  Dktioiuiry,  iir,  21,  et  seq. 

2  Littell's  Living  Age,  lvii,  9G4 ;  a  very  full  and  interesting  arti- 
cle, by  Mr.  William  R.  Deane,  who  has  gathered  nearly  all  the 
facts  that  are  known  about  Madam  Knight,  and  has  kindly  per- 
mitted their  use.  Much  of  this  preface  is  taken  from  that  article , 
which  is  referred  to,  fof  convenience,  by  his  initials. 

3  W.  R.  D. 


y(^^ 


PREFACE.  '  V 

verted  into  the  Catholic  church.^  He  lived  in 
this  house  until  his  deji.th.  January  29,  1688-9. 
His  wife  survived  him  until  Deceraher  19,  1712. 
The  grave  stones  of  both  are  in  the  Copp's  Hill 
burying  ground.  ^ 

Sarah  Kemble  was  married  to  Richard  Knight 
of  Boston,  "  a  Captain  of  a  London  trader."  ^  He 
died  abroad,  but  in  Avhat  year  is  not  ascertained. 
Mr.  Deane  says  that  his  wife  supposed  him  to  be 
living  in  1706,  when  she  signed  as  his  attorney;^ 
but  the  notice  in  the  Historical  Magazine,  just 
referred  to,  states  that  her  journey  in  1704  was 
to  claim  some  of  his  property  in  New  York. 

The  fact  that  he  is  not  mentioned  in  the  jour- 
nal seems  to  favor  the  latter  of  these  views. 
He  had  had  a  former  wife,  Remember  Grafton, 
the  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Grafton,  of  Salem;' 
and  he  is  said  l^y  one  authority  to  have  been 
"  bred  a  carver."  ^ 

Soon  after   her  return  from  the  New  York 

1  Historical  Magazine,  ix,  93,  ei  scq. 

2W.  R.  D. 

3  Historical  Magazine,  ix,  93,  et  seq. 

*W.  K.  D.,  referring  to  Middlesex  Reg.  Deeds,  iii,  403. 

'Savage's  Geneahgical  Didionari/. 


VI  PKEFACE. 

journey  Madam  Knight  opened  a  school  for  child- 
ren. Dr.  Franklin  and  Dr.  Samuel  Mather 
were  among  her  scholars.  As  she  was  the  only 
surviving  child  of  her  parents  she  continued  to 
keep  school  in  the  house  built  by  her  father 
until  1714.  She  then  sold  the  estate  to  Peter 
Papillion;  and  it  became  afterwards  the  property 
of  Hannah,  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel  Mather.  In  the 
year  1763  Dr.  Mather  had  the  house  new  glazed; 
and  one  pane  of  glass  was  preserved  as  a  curi- 
osity till  it  was  lost  when  Charlestown  was  burnt 
in  1765.  That  pane  bore  the  following  lines 
w^ritten  with  a  diamond: 

Through  many  toils  and  many  flights 
I  have  returned,  poor  Sarah  Knights 

Over  great  rocks  and  many  stones 

God  has  preserved  from  fractured  hones. 

It  was  as  a  schoolmistress  that  she  acquired 
the  title  of  Madam;  and  she  is  said  to  have  been 
noted  for  teaching  composition.^ 

Elizabeth,  the  only  child  of  Madam  Knight, 

^  1  Uistorical  3Iagazine,  as  cited  above.  In  his  autobiography  Dr. 
Fi'anklin  does  not  mention  Madam  Knight ;  but  he  states  that  he 
"was  sent  to  the  grammar  school  at  eight  years  of  age ;  and  this 
would  correspond  Avith  the  time  when  Madam  Knight  gave  up 
her  school. 


TREFACE.  Vll 

was  born  in  Boston,  May  8th,  1G89,  and  was 
married  there  by  Dr.  Increase  Mather  to  Colonel 
John  Livingston  of  New  London,  Oct,  1st,  1713.^ 
She  was  his  second  wife.  His  first  wife  was 
met  by  Madam  Knight  and  is  mentioned  in  the 
journal.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Livingston  survived 
her  husband;  but  had  no  children.  A  table  of 
freestone  with  this  inscription  perpetuates  her 
memory : 

"  Intercl  vnder  this  stone  is  the  body  of  Madam 
Elizabeth  Livingston,  relict  of  Col.  John  Livingr 
stone  of  New  London,  who  departed  this  life 
March  17th  A.  D.  1735-6  in  the  48th  year  of  her 
age."  2 

It  was  undoubtedly  the  marriage  of  her  daugh- 
ter which  induced  Madam  Knight  to  sell  her 
house.  About  this  time  she  removed  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Norwich  and  New  London,  Ct., 
and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  an  energetic 
and  active  life. 

nv.  R.  D. 

2  Miss  Frances  M.  Caulkins's  Jlistory  of  Neic  London,  365.  ]\Iany 
of  the  subsequent  details  of  Madam  Knight's  life,  after  she  removed 
from  Boston,  are  copied  by  permission  from  Miss  Caulkins'  His- 
tory, and  from  a  letter  written  by  her  to  Mr.  Deane  in  1858,  and 
printed  in  the  article  already  mentioned. 


Vlll 


TREFACE. 


In  1717  a  silver  cup  for  the  commnnion  service 
was  presented  by  her  to  the  cliurch  in  Norwich  ; 
and  the  town  by  vote,  August  12th,  gave  her 
liberty  to  "sit  in  the  pew  where  she  used  to 
In    1718,    March   26th,  Madam  Knidit 


sit 


"  1 


and  six  other  persons  were  presented  in  one 
indictment  "  for  selling  strong  drink  to  the  In- 
dians." They  were  fined  twenty  shillings  and 
costs.  It  is  added  to  the  record,  "  Mrs.  Knidit 
accused  her  maid,  Ann  Clark,  of  the  fact."  Af- 
ter this  period  Madam  Knight  appears  as  a 
land  i)urchaser  in  the  North  Parish  of  New  Lon- 
don, generally  as  a  partner  with  Joseph  Brad- 
ford. Col.  jivingston  had  purchased  a  great 
amount  of  land  from  the  Mohegan  Indians,  which 
he  had  gradually  parted  with.  Madam  Knight 
and  Mr.  Bradford  repurchased  much  of  this  land. 
One  deed  conveyed  to  them  more  than  two 
thousand  acres  for  which  they  paid  £1000;  and 
another  deed  was  for  about  half  that  extent. 
She  was  also  a  pew  holder  in  the  new  cliurch 

1  In  those  early  days  places  were  assigned,  or,  as  tlie  phrase 
was,  "  the  meeting  house  Avas  seated"  by  the  authority  of  the 
town.  Tlic  "  chief  seats  in  the  synagogues"  were  matters  of  great 
interest  and  ambition  and  sometimes  of  much  controversy. 


PREFACE.  IX 

built  in  the  North  Parish  of  New  London  about 
1724,  and  was  sometimes  styled  of  Norwich  and 
sometimes  of  New  London.     She  retained  her 
dwellmg   house    in    Norwich;    but   her    farms 
where    she    spent   a   portion  of  her  time,  were 
within    the  bounds  of  New  London.     On    one 
of  these,  tlie  Livingston  farm,  upon  the  Norwich 
road,  she  kept  entertainment  for  travelers,  and 
is  called    innkeeper.     At   this  place  she   died, 
Sept.    25th,    1727,  and   was   brought  to    New 
London  for  interment.     A    gray  headstone,  of 
which   an   exact  impression  is  given   on  a   fol- 
lowing page,  marks  the  place.'     The  only  child 
of    Madam    Knight,    Elizabeth,    relict   of  Col. 
John  Livingston,    survived  her,  and  presented 
her  inventory,  which    comprised  two  farms  in 
Mohegan  with  housing  and  mills,  £1600,  and 
estate,  in  Norwich,  £210. 

The  journal  which  is  here  reprinted,  had 
been  carefully  preserved* in  manuscript  in  the 
Christophers  family,  to  whom  it  came  after 
the  death  of  Mr.  Livingston;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Christopher  Christophers,  who  was  a  Prout,  of 

iMiss  Caulkins's  IIl><tor}i  of  New  London,  372,  et  seq. 
2 


X  PREFACE. 

New  Haven,  and  a  relative,  being  appointed 
to  administer  on  her  estate.  From  a  descendant 
of  this  Mrs.  Christophers,  viz :  Mrs.  Ichabod 
Wetmore,  of  Middletown,  the  manuscript  was 
obtained  for  publication.  It  had  been  neatly 
copied  into  a  small  book.'  The  original  was 
not  returned  to  Mrs.  Wetmore,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  a  single  leaf,  has  unfortunately  been 
destroyed.'^ 

Madam  Knight's  business  on  this  journey  was, 
as  she  says,  the  distribution  of  an  estate  and 
one  evidently  in  which  she  had  a  personal  in- 
terest. It  may  possibly  have  been  that  of  her 
brother  John,  who  had  died  in  New  York  a 
few  years  previously,  or  perhaps  that  of  her 
husband,  as  stated  l^y  Mrs.  Hannah  Mather 
Crocker."  A  suggestion  has  been  made  that  it 
was  the  estate  of  Caleb  Trowbridge ;  but  this  is 
not  probable,  as  her  name  appears  in  1704  as  a 

^Miss  Caulkins's  History  of  Neic  London,  373. 

2  It  appears  from  Mr.  Deane's  article  that  this  leaf  was  then  in 
possession  of  Mr.  Theodore  Dwiglit  of  New  York,  who  edited  the 
journal. 

^Historical  Magazine,  ix,  93, 


PREFACE.  XI 

witness  to  the  papers  by  which  that  estate  was 

settled/ 

It  is  evident  from  her  journal  that  Madam 
Knight  was  energetic  and  observing;  that  she 
had  some  imagination  and  a  good  perception  of 
the  ludicrous.  She  seems  also  to  have  been  free 
from  that  strict  and  narrow  character  which  is 
o-enerally  attributed  to  the  Puritan  of  early 
New  England.  She  rides  a  few  miles  on  Sun- 
day, and  considers  the  prohibition  of  "  innocent 
merriment  among  young  people,"  to  be  "rigid." 
She  makes  jokes  on  Mr.  Devil's  name,  which, 
only  a  f<iw  years  earlier,  might  have  convicted 
her  of  witchcraft,  if  they  had  come  to  the  ears 
of  Cotton  Mather.  And  although  absent  from 
home  for  five  months,  and  a  visitor  with  at  least 
two  or  three  clergymen,  she  gives  no  account  of 
any  sermon  which  she  may  have  heard.  Her 
silence  in  this  particular  may  have  been  because 
there  was  more  novelty  in  the  matters  which 
she  narrates. 

Wherever  it  is  possible  to  make  the  test,  her 
journal  will  be  found  accurate  even  in  slight 

iw.  R.D. 


Xll 


PREFACE. 


matters.  It  may  therefore  willi  good  reason  be 
relied  upon  in  all  its  details. 

In  the  introduction  to  the  former  edition  it  is 
said  that  over  the  same  journey  which  Madam 
Knight  made,  "  we  proceed  at  our  ease  without 
exposure,  and  almost  without  fatigue,  in  a  day 
and  a  half."  A  penciled  note  made  in  1849  to 
a  copy  of  the  edition  adds :  "  now  performed  by 
rail  road  in  ten  hours."  That  time  is  now  re- 
duced to  eight.  One  may  venture  to  think  that 
the  speed  of  travel  will  never  be  carried  to  a 
much  higher  degree  than  it  has  now  reached. 

Albany,  1865. 


HEH,E  L7ETH  TE  BODy 


js 


OF  M     SAT^AH  KNIGHT 

WHO  DIED  SEP'^TIE  25*^ 

\J2J  IN  TIE  Q>'1YEA\ 


OE 


HEI^        AGE 


k2S:^^igS^^a5i^$tSS^  ■ 


/ 


THE 

PRIVATE  JOURNAL 


KEPT  BY 


MADAM  KNIGHT, 

ON  A  JOUKNET 

FROM  BOSTON  TO  NEW  YORK, 
IN  THE  YEAR  1704. 

FROM  THE  OKIGINAL  MANUSCRIPT. 


INTRODUCTION 


J.  HIS  is  not  a  work  of  fiction,  as  the  scarcity 
of  old  American  manuscripts  may  induce  some 
to  imagine ;  but  it  is  a  faithful  copy  from  a  diary 
in  the  author's  own  hand-writing,  compiled  soon 
after  her  return  home,  as  it  appears,  from  notes 
recorded  daily  while  on  the  road.  She  was  a 
resident  of  Boston,  and  a  lady  of  uncommon 
literary  attainments,  as  well  as  of  great  taste 
and  strength  of  mind.  She  was  called  Madam 
Knight,  out  of  respect  to  her  character,  accord- 
ing to  a  custom  once  common  in  New  England; 
but  what  was  her  family  name  the  publishers 
have  not  been  able  to  discover. 

The   object  proposed  in  printing   this   little 
work  is  not  only  to  please  those  who  have  par- 


16  INTEODUCTION. 

tially  studied  the  progressive  history  of  our 
country,  hut  to  direct  the  attention  of  others  to 
subjects  of  that  description,  unfashionable  as 
they  still  are ;  and  also  to  remind  the  public 
that  documents,  even  as  unpretending  as  the 
following,  may  possess  a  real  value,  if  they  con- 
tain facts  which  will  be  hereafter  sought  for  to 
illustrate  interesting  periods  in  our  history. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  brevity  of  the 
work  should  have  allowed  the  author  so  little 
room  for  the  display  of  the  cultivated  mind  and 
the  brilliant  fancy  which  frequently  betray 
themselves  in  the  course  of  the  narrative ;  and 
no  one  can  rise  from  the  perusal  without  wish- 
ing some  happy  chance  might  yet  discover  more 
full  delineations  of  life  and  character  from  the 
same  practiced  hand.  Subjects  so  closely  con- 
nected with  ourselves  ought  to  excite  a  degree 
of  curiosity  and  interest,  while  we  are  generally 
so  ready  to  open  our  minds  and  our  libraries  to 
the  most  minute  details  of  foreign  governments, 
and  the  modes  and  men  of  distant  countries, 
with  which  we  can  have  only  a  collateral  con- 
nection. 


INTRODUCTION. 


17 


Tn  copjing  the  following  ^vork  for  the  press, 
the  original  orthography  has  been  carefully  pre- 
served, in  some  cases,  it  may  be,  so  far  as  to 
retain  the  errors  of  the  pen,  for  fear  of  intro- 
ducing any  unwarrantable  modernism.  The 
punctuation  was  \ery  hasty,  and  therefore  has 
not  been  regarded.  Two  interruptions  occur  in 
the  original  near  the  commencement,  which 
could  not  be  supplied ;  and  in  a  few  instances 
it  has  been  thought  proper  to  make  short  omis- 
sions, but  none  of  them  materially  affect  the 
narrative. 

The  reader  will  find  frequent  occasion  to  com- 
pare the  state  of  things  in  the  time  of  our 
author  with  that  of  the  present  period,  particu- 
larly with  regard  to  the  number  of  the  inhab- 
itants,  and  the  fiicilities  and  accommodations 
prepared  for  travelers.  Over  that  tract  of 
country  where  she  traveled  about  a  fortnight  on 
horseback,  under  the  direction  of  a  hired  guide, 
with  frequent  risks  of  life  and  limb,  and  some- 
times without  food  or  shelter  for  many  miles, 
we  proceed  at  our  ease,  without  exposure  and 

almost  without  fatigue,  in  a  day  and  a   half, 

3 


18 


INTRODUCTION. 


through  a  well  peopled  land,  suj)plied  with  good 
stage  coaches  and  public  houses,  or  the  still 
greater  luxuries  of  the  elegant  steam  boats  which 
daily  traverse  our  waters. 


TUH 


JOURNAL 


OF 


MADAM   KNIGHT 


Monday,  Octb'r.  y"  second,  1704. — About 
three  o'clock  afternoon,  I  begun  my  Journey 
from  Boston  to  New  Haven ;  being  about  two 
Hundred  Mile.  My  Kinsman,  Capt.  Kobert 
Luist,^  waited  on  me  as  farr  as  Dedham,  where 
I  was  to  meet  y°  "Western  post.^ 

1  Robert  Luist,  shoijkeeper  or  Cliarlestown,  with  others,  signed 
a  receipt  for  his  share  of  Mrs.  Livingston's  estate.  Miss  Caulkins's 
letter,  W.  R.  D.  In  Savage's  Genealogical  Dktionavy  this  name 
is  found  under  Lewis. 

2  Letters  patent,  granting  to  Thoinas  Nealefor  twenty-one  years 
the  franchise  of^cstablisliing  a  Post  Office,  were  issued  in  1691, 
and  in  1693  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  under  the  au- 
thority of  those  letters,  established  a  "  General  Letter  Office." 

The  western  post  was  the  post  between  Boston  and  New  York. 
A  few  years  later,  during  the  "  winter  months,"  it  set  out  once  a 


20  The  Journal  of 

I  vissitted  the  Reverd.  Mr.  Belcher/  y^  Mmis- 
ter  of  y""  town,  iind  tarried  there  till  evening,  in 
hopes  y*'  post  would  come  along.  But  he  not 
coming,  I  resolved  to  go  to  Billingses  where  he 
used  to  lodg,  being  12  miles  further.  But  being 
ignorant  of  the  way,  Mad'"  Billings,"  seing  no 
persuasions  of  her  good  spouses  or  hers  could 
prevail  with  me  to  Lodg  there  that  night.  Very 
kindly  went  wyth  me  to  y""  Tavern,  where  I 
hoped  to  get  my  guide.  And  desired  the  Hostess 
to  inquire  of  her  guests  whether  any  of  them 
would  go  with  mee.  But  they  being  tyed  by 
the  Lipps  to  a  pewter  engine,  scarcely  allowed 
themselves  time  to  say  what  clownish  *  *  '^'  * 

\_Here  half  a  page  of  the  MS.  is  r/one.^ 
*  =!=  *  Peices  of  eight,  I  told  her  no,  I  would  not 
be  accessary  to  such  extortion. 

Then  John  shan't  go,  sais  shee.     No,  indeed, 
shan't  hee;  And  held  forth  at  that  rate  a  long 

fortnight,  going  alternately  to  Saybrook  and  to  Hartford,  and  at 
those  places  exchanging  mails  with  the  New  Yoi^  rider. 

Mass.  Hist.  Col.  3d  Series,  xii,  48. 

1  The  Rev.  Joseph  Belcher,  who  was  graduated  at  Harvard  in 
1690  and  ordained  at  Dedliam  Nov.  39, 1693. 

^Probably  a  misprint  for  "Madam  Belcher." 


Madam  Knight.  21 

time,  that  I  began  to  fear  I  was  got  among  the 
Quaking  tribe,  beleeving  not  a  Limbertong'd 
sister  among  them  could  outdo  Madm.  Ilostes. 

Upon  this,  to  my  no  small  surprise,  son  John 
arrose,  and  gravely  demanded  what  I  would 
give  him  to  go  with  me  ?  Give  you,  sais  I,  are 
you  John?  Yes,  says  he,  for  want  of  a  Better, 
And  behold  !  this  John  look't  as  old  as  my  Host, 
and  perhaps  had  bin  a  man  in  the  last  Century. 
Well,  Mr.  John,  sais  I,  make  your  demands. 
Why,  half  a  pss.  of  eight  and  a  dram,  sais  John. 
I  agreed,  and  gave  him  a  Dram  (now)  in  hand 
to  bind  the  bargain. 

My  hostess  catechis'd  John  for  going  so  cheep, 
saying  his  poor  wife  would  break  her  heart  ='=  * 

\_IIere  another  half  page  of  the  MS.  is  gone.'] 
His  shade  on  his  Hors  resembled  a  Globe  on  a 
Gate  post.     His  habitt,  Hors  and  furniture,  its 
looks  and  goings  Incomparably  answered  the  rest. 

Thus  Jogging  on  with  an  easy  pace,  my  Guide 
telling  mee  it  was  dangero's  to  Ride  hard  in  the 
Nio'lit,  (wh''^  his  horse  had  the  sence  to  avoid,) 
Hee  entertained  me  with  the  Adventurs  he  had 
passed  by  late  Rideing,  and  eminent  Dangers  he 


22  The  Journal  of 

had  escaped,  so  that,  Rememhring  the  Hero's 
in  Parismiis^  and  the  Knight  of  the  Oracle,  I 
didn't   know  but  I  had   mett  w*^  a  Prince  dis- 

guis'd. 

When  we  had  Ridd  about  an  how'r,  wee  come 
into  a  thick  swamp,  wch.  by^  Reason  of  a  great 
fogg,  very  much  startled  mee,  it  being  now  very 
Dark.  But  nothing  dismay'd  John :  Hee  had 
encountered  a  thousand  and  a  thousand  such 
Swamps,  having  a  Universall  Knowledge  in  the 
woods;  and  readily  Answered  all  my  inquiries 
wch.  were  not  a  few. 

In  about  an  how'r,  or  something  more,  after 
we  left  the  Swamp,  we  come  to  Billinges,  where 
I  was  to  Lodg.  My  Guide  dismounted  and  very 
Complasantly  help't  me  down  and  shewd  the 
door,  signing  to  me  w"'  his  hand  to  Go  in ;  w'^'' 
I  Gladly  did — But  had  not  gone  many  steps  into 

1  Parismus,  the  renowned  prince  of  Bohemia,  his  most  famous, 
delectable  and  pleasant  history;  containing  his  noble  battails 
brought  against  the  Persians,  his  love  to  Laurana,  the  King's 
daughter  of  Thessaly,  and  his  strange  adventures  in  the  desolate 
Island  &c.  London,  T,  Creede,  1598.  Eighteen  editions  of  it  are 
recorded  during  the  next  hundred  years.  Written  by  Edward 
Ford. 


Madam  Knight,  23 

the  Room,  ere  1  was  Interogated  by  a  young- 
Lady  I  understood  afterwards  Avas  the  ElcTest 
daughter  of  the  faniil}^,  with  these,  or  Avords  to 
this  purpose,  (viz.)  Law  for  mee — what  in  the 
world  brings  You  here  at  this  time  a  night  ? — I 
never  see  a  woman  on  the  Rode  so  Dreadfull  late, 
in  all  the  days  of  my  versall  life.  Who  are 
You  ?  AVhere  are  You  going?  I'me  scar'd  out 
of  my  witts — with  much  now  of  the  same  Kind. 
I  stood  aghast,  Prepareing  to  reply,  when  in 
comes  my  Guide — to  him  Madam  turn'd,  Roreing 
out:  Lawfull  heart,  John,  is  it  You? — how  de 
do!  Where  in  the  world  are  you  going  with 
this  w^oman?  Who  is  she?  John  made  no 
Ansr.  but  sat  down  in  the  corner,  fumbled  out 
his  black  Junk,  and  saluted  that  instead  of  Debb; 
she  then  turned  agen  to  mee  and  fell  anew  into 
her  silly  questions,  without  asking  me  to  sitt 
down. 

I  told  her  she  treated  me  very  Rudely,  and  I 
did  not  think  it  my  duty  to  answer  her  unman- 
nerly Questions.  But  to  get  ridd  of  them,  I  told 
her  I  come  there  to  have  the  post's  company 
with  me  to-morrow  on  my  Journey,  &c.     Miss 


24  The  Journal  of 

star'd  awhile,  drew  a  chair,  bid  me  sitt,  And 
then  run  up  stairs  and  putts  on  two  or  three 
Eings,  (or  else  I  had  not  seen  them  before,)  and 
returning,  sett  herself  just  before  me,  showing 
the  w^ay  to  Reding,^  that  I  might  see  her  Orna- 
ments, perhaps  to'  gain  the  more  respect.  But 
her  Granam's  new  Rung  sow,  had  it  appeared, 
would  affected  me  as  much.  I  paid  honest  John 
^\^^  money  and  dram  according  to  contract,  and 
Dismist  him,  and  pray'd  Miss  to  shew  me  wdiere 
1  must  Lodg.  Shee  conducted  me  to  a  parlour 
in  a  little  back  Lento,"  w''^  was  almost  filled  w'^ 
the  bedsted,  w^^  was  so  high  I  was  forced  to  climb 
on  a  chair  to  gitt  up  to  y^  wretched  bed  that  lay 
on  it;  on  w'^^  having  Stretcht  my  tired  Limbs, 
and  lay'd  my  head  on  a  Sad-colourd^  pillow,  I 
began  to  think  on  the  transactions  of  y^  past 
day. 

Tuesday,    October  y"*  third,   about  8  in  the 

^In  Notes  and  Queries,  2d  Series,  vol.  6,  p.  233,  there  is  an  inquiry 
as  to  the  origin  of  tliis  phrase,  but  it  is  unanswered. 

2  Lean  to. 

3  Sombre,  dark.  "  Tlie  colours  are  too  sad."  Beaumont  and 
Fletcher,  Love's  Cure,  Act  iii,  Scene  2,  Dyee's  edition,  vol.  ix, 
p.  151. 


Madam  Knight.  25 

morning,  I  with  the    Post   proceeded   forward 
without  observing  any  thing  remarkable ;  4iid 
about  two,  afternoon,  Arrived  at  the  Post's  second 
stage,   where  the  w^estern  Post  mett^  him  and 
exchanged    Letters.     Here,   having   called   for 
something  to  eat,  y^  woman  bro't  in  a  Twisted 
thing  like  a  cable,  but  something  whiter;  and 
laying  it  on  the  bord,  tugg'd  for  life  to  bring  it 
into  a  capacity  to  spread ;  w^'^  having  w*^  great 
pains  accomplished,  shee  serv'd  in  a  dish  of  Pork 
and  Cabage,  I  suppose  the  remains  of  Dinner. 
The  sause  was  of  a  deep  Purple,  w^^  I  tho't  was 
boil'd  in  her  dye  Kettle ;  the  bread  was  Indian, 
and  every  thing  on  the  Table  service  Agreeable 
to  these.     I,  being  hungry,  gott  a  little  down; 
but  my  stomach  was  soon  cloy'd,  and  what  cab- 
bage I  swallowed  serv'd  me  for  a  Cudd  the  whole 

day  after. 

Having  here  discharged  the  Ordnary  for  self 
and  Guide,    (as  I  understood  was  the  custom,) 

iThe  chief  post  office  in  Connecticut  was  New  London,  and 
this  post  was  probably  the  rider  from  that  place,  who  exchanged 
letters  here  and  then  returned  to  New  London.  Madam  Knight 
went  with  him,  and  he  thus  became  her  "third  guide." 

4 


26  The  Journal  of 

About  Three  afternoon  went  on  with  my  Third 
Guide,  who  Eode  very  hard :  and  having  crossed 
Providence  Ferry,  we  come  to  a  Eiver  w'^  they 
Generally  Eide  thro'.'     But  I  dare  not  venture; 
so  the  Post  got  a  Ladd  and  Cannoo  to  carry  me 
to  tother  side,  and  hee  rid  thro'  and  Led  my  hors. 
The  Cannoo  was  very  small  and  shallow,  so  that 
when  we  were  in  she  seem'd  redy  to  take  in 
water,  which  greatly  terrified  mee,  and  caused 
me  to    be  very  circumspect,   sitting  with    my 
hands  fast  on   each  side,  my   eyes   stedy,  not 

1  This  must  have  been  where  the  village  of  Pawtuxet  now  is. 
The  route  from  Boston  to  New  York  through  Rhode  Island  fol- 
lowed the  shore  of  the  bay  and  sea  very  nearly.    From  Providence 
it  went  through  the  present  villages  of  Pawtuxet,  Apponarg,  East 
Greenwich,  a  little  west  of  Wickford,  then  southerly  through 
Tower  Hill,  Wakefield  (formerly  kuo^NTi  as  McCoon's  Mills),  and 
then  southerly  and  westerly  near  the  shore  by  Charlestown  and 
westerly  to  Pawcatuc  Bridge.    It  was  long  known  as  the  Pequot 
path,  road  to  Pequot  and  afterwards  as  the  King's  or  Queen's 
Highway  and  the  old  Post  road,  and  is  throughout  of  greater 
width  than  the  average  country  roads.    A  new  road  through  the 
present  towns  of  North  and  South  Kingstown  leading  through 
the  present  village  of  Kingston  was  laid  out  1703.     See  Potter's 
History  of  Narraganset.    {R.  I.  Ukt.  Soc.  Coll ,  iii,  228).    E.  R.  v. 
This  note  and  the  others  with  these  initials  are  from  llic  pen  of 
E.  R.  Potter,  Esq.  of  Kingston,  R.  I. 


Madam  Knight.  27 

daring  .so  iiiucli  as  to  lodg  my  tongue  a  hair's 
breadth  more  on  one  side  of  my  mouth  then 
tother,  nor  so  much  as  think  on  Lott's  wife,  for 
a  wry  thought  would  have  oversett  our  wherey ; 
But  was  soon  put  out  of  this  pain,  by  feehng  the 
Cannoo  on  shore,  w'''  I  as  soon  ahuost  saluted  with 
my  feet;  and  'Rewarding  my  sculler,  again 
mounted  and  made  the  best  of  our  way  forwards. 
The  "Rode  here  was  very  even  and  y"  day  pleas- 
ant, it  being  now  near  Sunsett.  But  the  Post 
told  mee  we  had  neer  14  miles  to  Ride  to  the 
next  Stage,  (where  we  were  to  Lodg.)  I  askt 
him  of  the  rest  of  the  Rode,  foreseeing  wee  must 
travail  in  the  night.  Hee  told  mee  there  was  a 
bad  River  we  were  to  Ride  thro',  w'''  was  so  very 
firce  a  hors  could  sometimes  hardly  stem  it :  But 
it  was  but  narrow,  and  wee  should  soon  be  over. 
I  cannot  express  The  concern  of  mind  this  rela- 
tion sett  me  in :  no  thouglits  Ijut  those  of  the 
dang'ros  River  could  entertfiin  my  Imagination, 
and  they  were  as  formidable  as  varios,  still  Tor- 
menting me  with  blackest  Ideas  of  m}^  Approch- 
ing  fate — Sometimes  seing  myself  drowning, 
otherwhiles  drowned,  and  at  the  best  like  a  holy 


28  The  Journal  of 

Sister  Just  come  out  of  a  Spiritual  Bath  in  drip- 
ping Garments. 

Now  was  the  Glorious  Luminary,  w*^  his  swift 
Coursers  arrived  at  his  Stage,  leaving  poor  me 
w*''  the  rest  of  this  part  of  the  lower  world  in 
darkness,  with  which  ^(;ee  were  soon  Surrounded. 
The  only  Glimering  we  now  had  was  from  the 
spangled  Skies,  Whose  Imperfect  Reflections 
rendered  every  Object  formidable.  Each  lifeless 
Trunk,  with  its  shattered  Limbs,  appear'd  an 
Armed  Enymie;  and  every  little  stump  like  a 
Ravenous  devourer.  Nor  could  I  so  much  as 
discern  my  Guide,  when  at  any  distance,  which 
added  to  the  terror. 

Thus,  absolutely  lost  in  Thought,  and  dying 
with  the  very  thoughts  of  drowning,  1  come  up 
w^^  the  post,  who  I  did  not  see  till  even  with  his 
Hors :  he  told  mee  he  stopt  for  mee :  and  wee 
Rode  on  Very  delibaratly  a  few  paces,  when  we 
entred  a  Thickett  of  Trees  and  Shrubbs,  and  I 
perceived  by  the  Hors's  going  we  Avere  on  the 
descent  of  a  Hill,  w^^,  .as  wee  come  neerer  the 
bottom,  'twas  totaly  dark  w*^  the  Trees  that  sur- 


Madam  Knight.  29 

rounded  it.  But  I  knew  bv  the  Going  of  the 
Hors  wee  had  entred  the  water,  w'*"  my  Guide 
told  niee  was  the  hazzardos  River^  he  had  told 
me  off;  and  hee,  Riding  up  close  to  my  Side,  Bid 
me  not  fear — wc  should  be  over  Imediatly.  I 
now  ralyed  all  the  Courage  I  was  mistriss  of, 
Knowing  that  I  must  either  Venture  mj^  fate  of 
drowning,  or  be  left  like  y^  Children  in  the  wood. 
So,  as  the  Post  bid  me,  I  gave  Reins  to  my  Nagg ; 
and  sitting  as  Stedy  as  Just  before  in  the  Cannoo, 
in  a  few  minutes  got  safe  to  the  other  side, 
which  hee  told  mee  was  the  Narragansett 
country."' 

1  This  is  evidently  Mascachuge  river,  a  little  south  of  East  Green- 
Avich.  The  road  now  by  taking  from  the  top  of  the  hill  and 
bridging  filling  up  the  hollow  between  the  hills  is  very  tolerable. 
But  within  the  recollection  of  the  writer  the  hills  were  very  steep 
and  it  was  a  place  dreaded  by  travelers  and  teamsters.  "A  little 
farther  south  is  Hunt's  river,  but  the  description  does  not  at  all 
agree  with  this.  e.  e.  p. 

2  The  Narragansett  country,  so  called  from  the  powerful  tribe 
of  that  name  who  originally  occupied  it,  lay  between  Narragan- 
sett bay  and  Pawcatuck  river.  It  had  been  claimed  both  by  Con- 
necticut and  by  Rhode  Island,  and  these  claims  had  been  for 
many  years  a  cause  of  strife  between  those  colonies.  At  one  time 
it  was  formed  into  a  nominally  separate  jurisdiction,  under  the 
name  of  The  King's  Province. 


30  The  Journal  of 

Here  We  found  great  difficulty  in  Travaililig, 
the  way  being  very. narrow,  and  on  each  side 
the  Trees  and  l^ushes  gave  us  very  unpleasent 
welcome  w"'  their  Branches  and  bow's,  w''^  wee 
could  not  avoid,  it  being  So  exceeding  dark.     My 
Guide,  as  before  so  now,  putt  on  harder  than  I, 
^th  jj^y  weary  bones,  could  follow ;  so  left  mee 
and  the  way  beehind  him.     Now  Returned  my 
distressed   aprehensions   of  the  place  where   I 
was  :  the  dolesome  woods,  my  Company  next  to 
none.  Going  I  knew  not  whither,  and    encom- 
pased  w*''  Terrifying   darkness;    The  least    of 
which  was  enough  to  startle  a  more  Masculine 
courage.     Added  to  which  the  Eeflections,  as 
in  the  afternoon  of  y*"  day  that  my  Call  was  very 
Questionable,  w"^^  till  then  I  had  not  so  Prudently 
as  I  ought  considered.     Now,  coming  to  y*"  foot 
of  a  hill,  I  found  great  difficulty  in  ascending  j 
But  being  got   to  the   Top,  was   there    amjoly 
recompenced  with  the  friendly  Appearance  of 
the  Kind  Conductress  of  the  night.  Just   then 
Advancing  above    the  Horisontall  Line.     The 
EaptuTes  w'^'  the  Sight  of  that  hiir  Planett  pro- 
duced in  mee,  caus'd  mee,  for  the- Moment,  to 


Madam  Knight.  31 

forgett  my  present  wearyness  and  past  toils; 
and  Inspir'd  me  for  most  of  the  remaining  way 
with  very  divirting  thot's,  some  of  which,  with 
the  other  Occurances  of  the  day,  I  reserved  to 
note  down  when  I  should  come  to  my  Stage. 
My  tlio'ts  on  the  sight  of  the  moon  were  to  this 
purpose : 

Fair  Cynthia,  all  the  Homage  that  I  may 

Unto  a  Creature,  unto  thee  I  pay ; 

In  Lonesome  woods  to  meet  so  kind  a  guide, 

To  Mee's  more  worth  than  all  the  world  beside. 

Some  Joy  I  felt  just  now,  when  safe  got  or'e 

Yon  Surly  River  to  this  Rugged  shore, 

Deeming  Rough  welcomes  from  these  clownish  Trees, 

Better  than  Lodgings  w  ' '  Nereidee?<. 

Yet  swelling  fears  surprise  ;  all  dark  appears  — 

Nothing  but  Light  can  disipate  those  fears. 

My  lainting  vitals  can't  lend  strength  to  say. 

But  softly  whisper,  0  I  wish  'twere  day. 

The  murmer  hardly  warm'd  the  Ambient  air, 

E're  thy  Bright  Aspect  rescues  from  dispair : 

Makes  the  old  Hagg  her  sable  mantle  loose, 

And  a  Bright  Joy  do's  through  my  Soul  diffuse. 

The  Boistero's  Trees  now  Lend  a  Passage  Free, 

And  pleasent  prospects  thou  giv'st  light  to  see. 

From  hence  wee  kept  on,  with  more  ease  y" 


32  The  Journal  of 

before:  the  way  being  smooth  and  even,  the 
nidit  warm  and  serene,  and  the  Tall  and  thick 
Trees  at  a  di^ance,  especially  w""  the  moon 
glar'd  light  through  the  branches,  fill'd  my 
Imagination  w^^  the  pleasent  delusion  of  a  Sump- 
teous  citty,  fill'd  w*''  famous  Buildings  and 
churches,  w**"  their  spiring  steeples.  Balconies, 
Galleries  and  I  know  not  what :  Granduers  w"^^ 
I  had  heard  of,  and  w'^''  the  stories  of  foreign 
countries  had  given  me  the  Idea  of 

Here  stood  a  Lofty  church — there  is  a  steeple, 
And  there  the  Grand  Parade — 0  see  the  people  ! 
That  Famouse  Castle  there,  were  I  but  nigh. 
To  see  the  mote  and  Eridg  and  walls  so  high — 
They'r  very  fine  !  puis  my  deluded  eye. 

Being  thus  agreably  entertain'd  without  a 
thou't  of  any  thing  but  thoughts  themselves,  I  on 
a  suden  was  Rous'd  from  these  pleasing  Imagi- 
nations, by  the  Post's  sounding  his  horn,  which 
assured  mee  liee  was  arrived  at  the  Stage,  where 
we  were  to  Lodg:  and  that  musick  was  then 
igiost  musickall  and  agreeable  to  mee. 

Being  come  to  mr.  Havens'/  I  was  very  civilly 

'i  Havens'  Tavern,  says  Mr.  Updike  in  his  history  of  the  Episco- 


Madam  Knight.  33 

Received,  and  courteously  entertained,  in  a  clean 
comfortable  House;  and  the  Good  woman  was 
very  active  in  helping  off  my  Riding  cloths, 
and  then  ask't  what  I  would  eat.  I  told  her  I 
had  some  Chocolett  if  shee  would  prepare  it ; 
which  with  the  help  of  some  Milk,  and  a  little 
clean  brass  Kettle,  she  soon  eftected  to  my  satis- 
faction. I  then  betook  me  to  my  Apartment, 
w"^^  was  a  little  Room  parted  from  the  Kitchen 
by  a  single  bord  partition ;  where,  after  I  had 
noted  the  Occurrances  of  the  past  day,  I  went 
to  bed,  which,  tlio'  pretty  hard,  Yet  neet  and 
handsome.     But  I  could  get  no  sleep,  because  of 

pal  church  in  Narragansett,  stood  on  the  site  of  the  house  of  the 
late  William  P.  Maxwell,  Esq.,  in  North  Kingstown,  a  little  south 
of  the  well  known  Devil's  Foot  rock. 

It  seems  rather  remarkable  that  Mrs.  Knight  does  not  mention 
this  rock  which  is  partly  in  the  highway  and  was  celebrated  among 
the  Indians.  Its  English  name  is  a  translation  of  the  Indian 
name.  (See  Records  of  Xorth  luDgsfon,  u,  54),  and  there  were 
strange  traditions  of  the  devil's  doings  connected  with  it.  A 
short  distance  south  of  Havens'  was  the  residence  of  Lodowick 
Updike,  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  settlements  in  the  coun- 
try, settled  before  the  great  Indian  war  of  1G75 ;  Mr.  Updikcfijwas 
then  (1704)  the  proprietor  of  an  immense  estate  and  well  Jinown 
all  over  the  state.  (PStter's  Narragaimit,  270, 311, 166).  It  may 
perhaps  be  accounted  for  by  her  mode  of  traveling.         k.  r.  p. 

5 


34  The  Journal  of 

the  Clamor  of  some  of  the  Town  tope-ers  in  next 
Room,  Who  were  entred  into  a  strong  debate 
concerning  y^  Signifycation  of  the  name  of  their 
Country,  (viz.)  Narraganset.  One  said  it  was 
named  so  by  y°  Indians,  because  there  grew  a 
Brier  there,  of  a  prodigious  Highth  and  bigness, 
the  hke hardly  ever  known,  called  by  the  Indians 
Narragansett;  And  quotes  an  Indian  of  so  Bar- 
berous  a  name  for  his  Author,  that  I  could  not 
write  it.  His  Antagonist  Eeplyed  no — It  was 
from  a  Spring  it  had  its  name,  w*^^  hee  well  knew 
where  it  was,  which  was  extreem  cold  in  sum- 
mer, and  as  Hott  as  could  be  imagined  in  the 
winter,  which  was  much  resorted  too  by  the 
natives,  and  by  them  called  Nam'agansett,  (Hott 
and  Cold,)  and  that  was  the  originall  of  their 
places  name — with  a  thousand  Impertinances 
not  worth  notice,  w^^  He  utter'd  with  such  a 
Eoreing  voice  and  Thundering  blows  with  the 
fist  of  wickedness  on  the  Table,  that  it  peirced 
my  very  head.  I  heartily  fretted,  and  wish't 
'um  tongue  tyed;  but  w*^  as  little  succes  as  a 
freind  of  mine  once,  who  was  (as  slice  said) 
kept  a  whole  night  awake,  on  a  Joiiiy,  by  a 


Madam  Knjgjit.  35 

country  Left,  and  a  Sergent,  Insigne  and  a  Dea- 
con, contriving  how  to  bring  a  triangle  into  a 
Square.  They  kept  calUng  for  tother  Gill,  w*'"' 
while  they  were  swallowing,  was  some  Inter- 
mission; But  presently,  like  Oyle  to  fire, 
encreased  the  flame.  I  set  my  Candle  on  a  Chest 
by  the  bed  side,  and  setting  up,  fell  to  my  old 
way  of  composing  my  Resentments,  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner : 

I  ask  thy  Aid,  0  Potent  Kum  ! 

To  Charm  these  wrangling  Topers  Duni, 

Thou  hast  their  Griddy  Brains  possest —  * 

The  inau  confounded  w'''  the  Beast — 

And  I,  poor  I,  can  get  no  rest. 

Intoxicate  them  with  thy  fumes  : 

0  still  their  Tongues  till  morning  comes. 

And  I  know  not  but  my  wishes  took  effect ;  for 
the  dispute  soon  ended  w*''  'tother  Dramj  and 
so  Good  night ! 

Wedensday,  Octob'"  4th.  About  four  in  the 
morning,  we  set  off  for  Kingston^  (for  so  was  the 
Town  called)  with  a  frencli  Docter^  in  our  com- 

1  Properly  Khigstown.    It  included  the  present  towns  of  North 
Kingstown,  South  Kingstown  and  Exeter.     Tower  Hill  was  one  of^ 
the  earliest  settlements  and  the  one  probably  meant.       e,  k.  p.      y 

2  A  few  miles  west  of  the  Havens  tavern  was  a  settlement  of 


36  The  Journal  of 

• 

panj.  Hee  and  y*^  Post  put  on  veiy  furiously,  so 
that  I  could  not  keep  up  with  them,  only  as  now 
and  then  they'd  stop  till  they  see  mee.  This  Rode 
was  poorly  furnished  w*^  accommodations  for 
Travellers,  so  that  we  were  forced  to  ride  22 
miles  hy  the  post's  account,  but  neerer  thirty  by 
mine,  before  wee  conld  bait  so  much  as  our 
Horses,  w'^'^  I  exceedingly  complained  of.  But 
the  post  encourag'd  mee,  by  saying  wee  should 
be  well  accommodated  anon  at  mr.  Devills,^  a 
few  miles  further.     But  I  questioned  whether 

French  Huguenots.     One  of  them, Ayrault,  was  a  physician 

and  probably  the  one  mentioned  by  Mrs.  Knight.  (See  Potter's 
Narmgansett^  105,  109.  e.  e.  p. 

^  Davell's  Mills,  now  Cross'  Mills  in  Charlestown.  Charlestown 
was  formerly  a  part  of  the  town  of  Westerly.  (See  Potter's  Nurra- 
gansett,  111,  336). 

In  going  from  Havens'  to  Davell's,  Mrs.  Knight  passed,  but 
probably  before  daylight,  within  a  few  rods  of  the  Updike  house 
before  mentioned.  As  she  crossed  Tower  hill,  she  was  near  the 
site  of  Bull's  garrison  house  burnt  in  the  i)revious  Indian  war. 
She  then  came  in  view  of  the  sea  and  the  famous  Point  Judith 
salt  ponds.  Near  the  present  village  of  Wakefield  she  passed  by 
the  head  of  these  ponds  and  directly  by  the  side  of  Sugar  Loaf 
hill,  a  hill  which  was  known  by  that  name  in  the  time  of  Roger 
Williams.  And  farther  on  was  a  spring  which  before  1703  was 
known  as  Deadman's  spring.  A  very  short  distance  from 
Davell's,  and  near  the  road,  stood   an  Indian  fort  well  known 


Madam  Knight.  37 

\ve  ought  to  go  to  the  Devil^  to  be  helpt  out  of 
affliction.  However,  like  the  rest  of  DeUided 
souls  that  post  to  y*"  Infernal  denn,  Wee  made  all 
posible  speed  to  this  Devil's  Habitation;  where 
alliting,  in  full  assurance  of  good  acconwnoda- 
tion,  wee  were  going  in.  But  meeting  his  two 
daughters,  as  I  suposed  twins,  they  so  neerly 
resembled  each  other,  both  in  features  and  habit, 
and  look't  as  old  as  the  Divel  himselfe,  and  quite 
as  Ugly,  We  desired  entertainm't,  but  could 
hardly  get  a  word  out  of  'um,  till  with  our  Im- 
portunity, telling  them  our  necesity,  &c.  they 
call'd  the  old  Sophister,  who  was  as  sparing  of 
his  words  as  his  daughters  had  bin,  and  no,  or 
none,  was  the  reply's  hee  made  us  to  our 
demands.  Hee  differed  only  in  this  from  the 
old  fellow  in  to'ther  Country  :  hee  let  us  depart. 
However,  I  thought  it  proper  to  warn  poor 
Travailers  to  endeavour  to  Avoid  falling  into  cir- 

in  Indian  liistoiy.  Its  remains  are  remarkable  even  at  this  day, 
and  tlie  place  is  called  Fort  Neck.  These  are  not  mentioned, 
probably  because  she  was  the  only  woman  in  the  company  and 
her  mind  was  intent  on  the  perils  of  her  journey.  e.  r.  p. 

1  This  name  of  Davol  or  Davell  Avas  spelled  Devil  on  old  records 
of  the  time  of  Madam  Knight.  w.  k.  d. 


38  The  Journal  of 

* 

cumstances  like  ours,  w''^  at  our  next  t^tage  I  sat 
down  and  did  as  followetli : 

May  all  that  dread  the  cruel  feind  of  uight 
Keep  on,  and  not  at  this  curs't  Mansion  light. 
'Tis  Hell ;  'tis  Hell  I  and  Devills  here  do  dwell : 
Here  dwells  the  Devil — surely  this's  Hell. 
Nothing  but  Wants  :  a  drop  to  cool  yo'r  Tongue 
Cant  be  procur'd  these  cruel  Feinds  among. 
Plenty  of  horrid  Grins  and  looks  sevcar. 
Hunger  and  thirst,  But  pitty's  bannish'd  here — 
The  Right  hand  keep,  if  Hell  on  Earth  you  fear ! 

Thus  leaving  this  habitation  of  cruelty,  we 
went  forward;  and  arriving  at  an  Ordinary^ 
about  two  mile  further,  found  tollerable  accomo- 
dation. But  our  Hostes,  being  a  pretty  full 
mouth'd  old  creature,  entertain'd  our  fellow 
travailer,  y^  french  Doctor,  w"'  Inumirable  com- 
plaints of  her  bodily  infirmities ;  and  whisper'd 
to  him  so  lou'd,  that  all  y*"  House  had  as  full  a 
hearing  as  hee :  which  was  very  divirting  to  y^ 
company,  (of  which  there  was  a  great  many,) 

ilf  the"Mr.  Dlvel's"  was  at  Daveirs  Mill,  as  wc  tliiuk,  this 
ordinary  might  have  been  at  the  residence  of  the  Champlius. 
This  fomily  settled  there  very  early  and  were  large  proprietors ; 
and  in  these  days  almost  everji- house -along  the  road  afforded 
eutertaiumeut  for  travelers.  e.  k.  p. 


» 


Madam  Knight.  39 

as  one  might  see  by  their  sneering.     But  poor 
weary  I  shpt  out  to  enter  my  mind  in  my  Jornal, 
and  left  my  Great  Landly  with  her  Talkative 
.  Guests  to  themselves. 

From  hence  we  proceeded  (about  ten  fore- 
noon) through  the  Naragansett  country,  pretty 
Leisurely;  and  about  one  afternoon  come  to 
Paukataug  River/  w'^''  was  about  two  hundred 
paces  over,  and  now  very  high,  and  no  way  over 
to  to'ther  side  but  this.  I  darid  not  venture  to 
Ride  thro,  my  courage  at  best  in  such  cases  but 
small,  And  now  at  the  Lowest  Ebb,  by  reason 
of  my  wearj^,  very  weary,  hungry  and  uneasy 
Circumstances.  So  takeing  leave  of  my  company, 
tho'  w"'  no  little  Reluctance,  that  I  could  not 
proceed  w*''  them  on  my  Jjrny,  Stop  at  a  little 
cottage  Just  by  the  Riv«  r,  to  wait  the  Waters 
fliUing,  w^''  the  old  man  lat  lived  there  said 
would  be  in  a  little  time,  .  nd  he  would  conduct 

ijVIr.  Updike  informs  mC  tliat  Jesse  Maxon,  for  many  years 
Town  clerk  of  Westerly  wbdtfeed  a  few  years  ago  at  an  advanced 
age  told  him  that  the  ancienu riding  over  place  at  Westerly  was 
five  or  six  rods  above  the  present  bridge  known  as  Pawcatuc 
Bridge.  It  was  called  Sh  s-'s  riding  over  place.  A  dwelling 
house  now  stands  where  the  )ld  way  was.  e.  k.  p. 


40  The  Journal  of 

me  safe  over.  This  little  Hutt  was  one  of  the 
wretcheclest  I  ever  saw  a  habitation  for  human 
creatures.  It  was  suported  with  shores  enclosed 
with  Clapbords,  laid  on  Lengthways,  and  so 
much  asunder,  that  the  Light  come  throu'  every 
where ;  the  doore  tyed  on  w*'^  a  cord  in  y''  place 
of  hinges;  The  floor  the  bear  earth ;  no  windows 
but  such  as  the  thin  covering  afforded,  nor  any 
furniture  but  a  Bedd  w^*^  a  o-lass  Bottle  haniiino- 
at  y''  head  on't ;  an  earthan  cupp,  a  small  jDcwter 
Bason,  A  Bord  w*^  sticks  to  stand  on,  instead  of 
a  table,  and  a  block  or  two  in  y®  corner  instead 
of  chairs.  The  family  were  the  old  man,  his 
wife  and  two  Children  ;  all  and  every  part  being 
the  picture  of  poverty.  Notwithstanding  both 
the  Hutt  and  its  Inhabitance  were  very  clean 
and  tydee :  to  the  crossing  the  Old  Proverb,  that 
bare  w\alls  make  giddy  hows-wifes. 

I  Blest  myselfe  that  I  was  not  one  of  this 
misserable  crew;  and  the  Impressions  their 
wretchedness  formed  in  me  caused  mee  on  y® 
very  Spott  to  say : 

Tho'  111  at  case,  A  straugei*  ard  alone, 
Ail  my  fatigu's  shall  not  ext  trt  a  grone. 
These  Indigents  have  hungc    with  their  ease; 


Madam  Knight.  41 

Tlieir  best  is  wors  behalfc  than  ray  disoapc. 
Their  Misirabic  hutt  well  Heat  and  Cold 
Alternately  without  Repulse  do  hold ; 
Their  Lodgings  thyn  and  hard,  their  Indian  fare, 
Their  mean  Apparel  which  the  wretches  wear, 
And  their  ten  thousand  ills  wch  can't  be  told, 
Makes  nature  er'e  'tis  midle  age'd  look  old. 
When  I  reflect,  my  late  fatigues  do  seem 
Only  a  notion  or  forgotten  Dreem. 

I  had  scarce  clone  thinking,  when  an  Indian- 
like Animal  come  to  the  door,  on  a  creature 
very  much  like  himselfe,  in  mien  and  feature, 
as  well  as  Ragged  cloathing ;  and  having  'litt, 
makes  an  Awkerd  Scratch  w*^  his  Indian  --shoo, 
and  a  Nodd,  sitts  on  y°  block,  fumbles  out  his 
Ijlack  Junk,  dipps  it  iny''  Ashes,  and  presents  it 
piping  hott  to  his  muscheeto'Sj  and  fell  to  suck- 
ing like  a  calf,  without  speaking,  for  near  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hower.  At  length  the  old  man  said 
ho^7  do's  Sarah  do  ?  who  I  understood  was  the 
wretches  Avife  and  Daughter  to  y*^  old  man :  he 
Repljed — as  well  as  can  be  expected,  &c.  So  I 
remembred  the  old  say,  and  suposed  I  knew 
Sarah's  case.  Butt  bee  being,  as  I  understood, 
going  over  the  River,  as  ugly  as  liee  was,  I  was 

6 


42  The  Journal  of 

glad  to  ask  him  to  sliow  me  y'^  way  to  Saxton;-., 
at   Stoniiigtowii ;  w^'*'  lie  promising,   I  ventiir'd 
over  w"'  the  old  man's  assistance ;  who  having 
rewarded  to  content,  with  my  Tattertailed  guide, 
I  Ridd  on  very  slowly  thro'  Stoningtown,  where 
the  Rode  Avas  very  Stony  and  uneven.^    I  asked 
the  fellow,  as  we  went,  divers  questions  of  the 
place  and   way,  &c.     I   heing    arrived   at   my 
country  Saxtons,^  at  Stonington,  was  very  well 
accommodated  both  as  to  victuals  and  Lodging, 
the  only  Good  of  both  I  had  found  since  my  set- 
ting out.     Here  I  heard  there  w^s  an  old  man 
and  liis  Daughter  to  come  that  way,   bound  to 
N.  London  ;  and  being  now  destitute  of  a  Guide, 
gladly  waited  for  them,  being  in  so  good  a  har- 
bour, and  accordingly,  Thirsday,  Octob'"  y"  5tli, 
about  3  in  the   afternoon,  I  sat  forward  with 

1  After  leaving  Pawcatnck  river,  Madam  Knight  evidently  took 
the  old  country  road,  leading  over  the  hills  through  the  central 
part  of  Stonington  to  the  head  of  Mystic  river. — Letter  of  Miss 
Caulkins,  June  1805. 

^Capt.  Joseph  Saxton,  who  died  in  1715,  lived  sonic  two  or 
three  miles  cast  of  Mystic.  lie  is  descrihed  in  one  document  as 
formerly  of  Boston.  "My  Country"  undoubtedly  means  "my 
countryman"  and  may  indicate  that  they  were  both  from  Bos- 
ton.—  Ibiil. 


Madam  Knigut.  43 

neighbour  Polly ^  and  Jemima,  a  Girl  about  18 
years  old,  who  hee  said  he  had  been  to  fetch 
out  of  the  Narragansetts,  and  said  they  had 
Rode  thirty  miles  that  day,  on  a  sory  lean  jade, 
w^'^  only  a  Bagg  under  her  for  a  pillion,  which 
the  poor  Girl  often  complain'd  was  very  uneasy. 

Wee  made  Good  speed  along  w^*^  made  poor 
Jemima  make  many  a  sow'r  face,  the  mare  being 
a  very  hard  trotter;  and  after  many  a  hearty 
and  bitter  Oh,  she  at  length  Low'd  out :  Lawful 
Heart  father!  this  bare  mare  hurts  mee  Dingee- 
ly,  I'me  direfull  sore  I  vow;  with  many  words 
to  that  purpose  : — poor  Child  sais  Gaffer — she 
us't  to  serve  your  mother  so.  I  don't  care  how 
mother  us't  to  do,  quoth  Jemima,  in  a  passion- 
ate tone,  at  which  the  old  man  Lauglit,  and 
kik't  his  Jade  o'  the  side,  which  made  her  Jolt 
ten  times  harder. 

About  seven  that  Evening,  we  come  to  New 
London  Ferry  :^  here,  by  reason  of  a  very  high 

iTliis  name  appears  in  New  Loudon  records. 

2Tlie  ferry  from  Groton  to  New  London  bad  been  leased  to 
Gary  Latbani  for  fiTty  years  from  Marcb  25tb,  lG5o.  Tbe  ferriasje 
was  3d  for  a  passenger,  Gd  for  a  borse  or  great  beast  and  M  for  a 
calf  or  swine.     In  February  1701-3  the  rent  of  tbe  ferry,  after 


44  The  Journal  of 

wind,  we  mett  with  great  difficulty  in  getting 
over — the  Boat  tos't  exceedingly,  and  our  Horses 
capper'd  at  a  very  surprizing  Rate,  and  sett  us 
all  in  a  fright ;  especially  poor  Jemima,  who 
desired  her  father  to  say  so  jack  to  the  Jade,  to 
make  her  stand.  But  the  careless  parent,  taking 
no  notice  of  her  repeated  desires,  She  Bored  out 
in  a  Passionate  manner  :  Pray  suth  father,  Are 
you  deaf?  Say  so  Jack  to  the  Jade,  I  tell  you. 
The  Dutiful  Parent  obey's;  saying  so  Jack,  so 
Jack,  as  gravely  as  if  liee'd  bin  to  saying  Cate- 
chise after  Young  Miss,  who  with  her  fright 
look't  of  all  coullers  in  y°  Bain  Bow. 

Being  safely  arrived  at  the  house  of   Mrs. 

the  expiration  of  this  lease,  was  appropriatccl  perpetually  to  tlic 
support  of  a  public  grammar  school.  The  Parade,  as  it  was  called, 
lay  at  the  foot  of  Court  or  State  strict  in  New  London ;  and 
from  the  eastern  part  of  the  Parade  the  coast  originally  turned  to 
the  west,  and  was  bordered  by  a  strip  of  sand  beach.  At  the 
head  of  this  beach  were  the  ferry  stairs  and  the  old  town  landing 
place,  where  in  1703  was  built  the  town  wharf  The  railroad 
ferry  by  which  travelers  from  Boston,  by  the  way  of  Stonington, 
now  cr^ss  on  their  way  to  New  Haven  and  New  York,  lies  ftir- 
ther  south,  even  on  the  New  London  side.  Down  to  1800  tlic 
ferry  boat  was  a  scow,  propelled  by  sails  c^id  oars.  A  rougli 
passage,  such  as  Madam  Knight  describes,  was  nothing  unusual. — 
Miss  Caulkius'  Uistory  of  New  Lomlon,  89, 134, 180,  402. 


Madam  Knight.  45 

Prentices^  in  N.  London,  I  treated  neighbour 
Polly  and  daughter  for  their  divirting  company, 
and  bid  them  farewell;  and  between  nine  and 
ten  at  night  waited  on  the  Rev^  Mr.  Gurdon 
Saltonstall,- minister  of  the  town,  who  kindly 
Invited  me  to  Stay  that  night  at  his  house, 
where  I  was  very  handsomely  and  plentifully 
treated  and  Lodg'd ;  and  made  good  the  Great 
Character  I  had  before  heard  concerning  him  : 

^  The  old  Prentis  homestead  was  near  the  north  end  of  Main 
street,  where  is  now  the  old  Deshon  hovise.  The  first  John  Pren- 
tis died  in  1G91 ;  and  his  relict,  a  third  wife  whom  he  had  married 
late  in  life,  survived  him  many  years  and  kept  a  house  of  enter- 
tainment. More  than  one  reference  can  be  found  to  the  tavern 
of  the  widow  Prentis. —  Miss  Caulkins'  letter. 

2  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  eldest  son  of  Nathaniel  Saltonstall  of 
Haverhill,  Mass.,  was  born  March  27,  IGGO;  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  where  he  was  a  distinguished  scholar,  and  was  ordained 
at  New  London  in  1091.  He  became  very  celebrated  as  a  preacher. 
On  the  death  of  Fitz  John  Winthrop  in  1707,  he  was  chosen 
governor  of  Connecticut;  and  he  continued  in  that  office  till  his 
death  in  1734.  "  Who  did  not  admire  his  consummate  wisdom, 
profound  learning,  his  dexterity  in  business  and  indefatigable  ap- 
plication, his  intimate  acquaintance  with  men  and  thi|igs  and  his 
superior  genius."  —  {Funeral  Bmmtrxe  by  Pev.  Eliphafct  Adams.) 
Mr.  Saltonstall's  house  was  next  to  that  of  ]Mrs.  Prentis,  so  that 
Madam  Knight  had  not  far  to  go  in  making  her  late  evening 
visi*. 


46  The  Jouknal  or 

viz.   that  he  Avas  the  most  affable,    courteous 
Genero's  and  best  of  men. 

Friday,  Octo''  Gth.  I  got  up  very  early,  in 
Order  to  hire  somebody  to  go  Avith  mee  to  New 
Haven,  being  in  great  parplexity  at  the  thoughts 
of  proceeding  alone  ;  which  my  most  hospitable 
entertainer  observing,  himself  went,  and  soon 
returned  w*""  a  young  Gentleman  of  the  town, 
who  he  could  confide  in  to  Go  with  mee;  and 
about  eight  this  morning,  w^*"  Mr.  Joshua  Whee- 
ler^ my  new  Guide,  takeing  leave  of  this  worthy 
Gentleman,  Wee  advanced  on  toward  Scab  rook. 
The  Rodes  all  along  this  way  are  verj^  bad,  In- 
cumbred  w^''  Rocks  and  mountainos  passages, 
w*^*'  were  very  disagreeable  to  my  tired  carcass ; 
but  we  went  on  with  a  moderate  pace  w""''  made 
y®  Journey  more  pleasent.  But  after  about 
eight  miles  Rideing,  in  going  over  a  Bridge'"  under 

1  Below  the  houses  of  IMr.  Saltonstall  and  of  Mrs.  Prentis  and 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  way  stood  the  Wheeler  house.  Mr. 
Saltonstall  therefore  soon  returned.  John  Wheeler  was  one  of 
the  early  shipping  merchants  of  New  London.  His  son  Joshua, 
born  in  1G81,  was  undoubtedly  Madam  Knight's  gmdv.—  Ih/'d. 

2  This  river  must  be  the  Niantic.  At  the  crossing,  known  as 
Kopp  Ferry,  tliere  was  no  bridge  uiilil  long  after  Aladani  Kniglirs 


Madam  Knight.  47 

w'^'  the  Eiver  Run  very  swift,  my  liors  stum- 
bled, and  very  narrowly  'scaped  falling  over  into 
the  water ;  w'^  extreemly  frightened  mee.  But 
through  Cxod's  Goodness  I  met  with  no  harm, 
and  mounting  agen,  in  about  half  a  miles  Ride- 
in  g,  come  to  an  ordinary,  were  well  entertained 
by  a  woman  of  about  seventy  and  vantage,  but 
of  as  Sound  Intellectuals  as  one  of  seventeen. 
Shee  entertain'd  Mr.  Wheeler  w^^  some  passages 
of  a  Weddhig  awhile  ago  at  a  place  hard  by, 
the  Brides-Groom  being  about  her  Age  or  some- 
tliino-  above,  Saving  his  Children  was  dredfuUy 
against  their  fiithers  marrying  w^''  shee  con- 
demned them  extreemly  for. 

From  hence  wee  went  pretty  briskly  forward, 
and  arriv'd  at  Saybrook  ferry  about  two  of  the 

any.  She  must  therefore  have  crossed  at  the  bridge  near  "  Eiver 
head ;"  which  by  the  in-cscut  road,  is  less  than  six  mik'S  from 
New  London.  This  road  is  an  ohl  route,  but  may  not  have  been 
opened  as  early  as  1704.  It  is  probable  that  Madam  Knight  went 
out  on  the  old  road  that  leads  by  Miss  Latimer's,  four  miles ;  then 
turned  west  into  the  Douglas  road,  Avhich  at  the  end  of  two  miles 
would  bring  her  to  a  narrow,  rugged  road,  (originally  an  old  In- 
dian trail,)  that  goes  directly  to  the  head  of  the  river,  •  She  would 
thus  have  had  her  full  eight  miles  oV' very  had  Bodes  Incumhred 
mth  Rocks  and  viotmfaum  pamujesr—  Ibid. 


48  The  Journal  of 

Clock  afternoon  ;  and  crossing  it,  wee  callM  at 
an  Inn  to  Bait,  (foreseeing  we  should  not  have 
such  another  Opportunity  till  we  come  to  Kil- 
lingsworth.)  Landlady  come  in,  with  her  hair 
ahout  her  ears,  and  hands  at  full  pay  scratching. 
Shee  told  us  shee  had  some  mutton  w'^^''  sliee 
would  broil,  w''''  I  was  glad  to  hear ;  But  I  sup- 
ose  forsot  to  wash  her  scratchers;  in  a  little 
time  shee  brot  it  in;  but  it  being  pickled,  and 
my  Guide  said  it  smelt  strong  of  head  sause,  we 
left  it,  and  p'^  sixpence  a  piece  for  our  Dinners, 
Av*^^  was  only  smell. 

So  wee  putt  forward  with  all  speed,  and  about 
seven  at  night  come  to  Killings  worth,  and  were 
toUerably  well  with  Travillers  fare,  and  Lodgd 
there  that  night. 

Saturday,  Oct.  7th,  we  sett  out  early  in  the 
Morning,  and  being  something  unaquainted 
w*^'  the  way,  having  ask't  it  of  some  wee  mett, 
they  told  us  wee  must  Eide  a  mile  or  two  and 
turne  down  a  Lane  on  the  Right  hand ;  and  by 
their  Direction  wee  Rode  on,  but  not  Yet  come- 
ing  to  y^  turning,  we  mett  a  Young  fellow  and 
ask't  him  how  farr  it  was  to  the  Lane  which 


Madam  Kxight.  49 

tnni'd  down  towards  Guilford.     IL^e  said  w^ee 
must  lUde  a  little  further,  and  turn  down  by 
the  Corner  of  uncle  Sams  Lott.      My  Guide 
vented  his  Spleen  at  the  Lubber;  and  we  soon 
after  came  into  the  Rhode,  and  keeping  still  on, 
without  any  thing  further  Eemarkabell,  about 
two  a  clock  afternoon  we  arrived  at  New  Haven, 
where  I  Avas  received  with  all  Posible  Respects 
and  civility.      Here  I  discharged  Mr.  Wheeler 
with  a  reward  to  his  satisfaction,  and  took  some 
time  to  rest  after  so  long  and  toilsome  a  Journey ; 
And  Inform'd  myselfe  of  the  manners  and  cus- 
toms of  the  place,  and  at  the  same  time  employed 
myselfe  in  the  afair  I  went  there  upon. 

They  are  Governed  by  the  same  Laws  as  wee 
in  Boston,  (or  little  differing,)  thr  out  this  whole 
Colony  of  Connecticot,'  And  much  the  same  way 
of  Church  Government,  and  many  of  them  good. 
Sociable  people,  and  I  hope  Religious  too:  but  a 
little  too  much  Lidependant  in  their  principalls,- 

i"Tlie  earliest  code  in  Connecticut,  related  only  to  c^iiiital  of- 
fences." Adopted  a  year  later  than  the  Massachusetts  Body  of 
Liberties,  it  is  in  great  part  a  verbal  copy  from  that  instrument." 
—  Palfrey's  Xcw  England,  ii,  31. 

2"  The  habits  of  thou-ht  of  this  fraternity,"   (the  settlers  of 


50  The  Journal  of 

and,  as  I  have  been  told,  were  formerly  in  their 
Zeal  very  Riggid  in  their  Administrations  to- 
wards such  as  their  Lawes  made  Offenders,  even 
to  a  harmless  Kiss^or  Innocent  merriment  among 
Young  people.  Whipping'  being  a  frequent  and 
counted  an  easv  Punishment,  about  w^^^  as  other 
Crimes,  the  Judges  were  absolute"  in  their  Sent- 
ances.  The}^  told  mee  a  pleasant  story  about 
a  pair  of  Justices  in  those  parts,  w^'^  I  may  not 
omit  the  relation  of. 

New  Haven,)  "  led  tlicm  to  cany  out  to  its  last  results  the  idea 
whicli  had  fascinated  so  many  thinking  persons  at  that  period,  of 
finding  in  scripture  a  special  rule  for  every  thing  of  the  nature  of 
civil  as  well  as  of  eccleasiastical  order  and  administration." — Pal- 
frey's New  England,  i,  528. 

^  The  tradition  of  this  strictness  may  have  supplied  a  hint  for 
one  of  the,  so  called,  "  Blue  Laws :"  "  No  woman  shall  kiss  her 
child  on  the  Sabbath  or  Fast  day."  And  at  least  it  is  evident 
from  this  Journal  that  the  story  of  some  New  Haven  legislation 
against  kissing  had  existed  long  before  1781  when  Samuel  Peters 
published  his  history  of  Connecticut,  in  which,  (as  it  is  said,)  the 
fiction  of  the  "  Blue  Laws"  first  appeared. — Kingsley's  Histoncal 
jyiscourse,  84. 

.  2 "  Dofamation  had  in  some  instances  been  punished  by  fine,  re- 
peated scourgings  and  imprisonment." — Trumbull's  JR^tort/  of 
Connecticut,  i,  177. 

^  This  probably  refers  to  the  absence  in  earlier  times  of  the 
trial  by:  Jury  and  the  want  of  any  body  of  statutes;  the  Mosaic 


is 


M^y)AM  Knight.  51 

A  negro  Slave  Ijelongiiig  to  a  man  in  y^  Town, 
stole  a  hogs  head  from  his  master,  and  gave  or 
sold  it  to  an  Indian,  native  of  the  place.  The  • 
Indian  sold  it  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  so  the 
theft  was  found  out.  Thereupon  the  Heathen 
was  Seized,  and  carried  to  the  Justices  House  to 
be  Exainined.  But  his  worship  (it  seems)  was 
iione  into  the  feild,  with  a  Brother  in  office,  to 
gather  in  his  Pompions.  Whither  the  malefiic- 
tor  is  hurried.  And  Complaint  made,  and  satis- 
faction in  the  name  of  Justice  demanded.  Their 
Worships  cann't  proceed  in  form  without  a 
Bench:  whereupon  thej  Order  one  to  be  Imedi- 
ately  erected,  which,  for  want  of  fitter  materials, 
they  made  with  pompions  —  which  being  finish- 
ed, down  setts  their  Worships,  and  the  Malefac- 
tor call'd,  and  by  the  Senior  Justice  Interrogated 
after  the  following  manner.  You  Indian  why 
did  You  steal  from  this  man?  You  sho'dn't  do 
go  —  it's  a  Grandy  wicked  thing  to  steal.  Hol't 
Hol't  cryes  Justice  Jun'  Brother,    You  speak 

law  being  establisht'd  as  \hv  rule  to  all  courts,  until  it  should  bu 
"branched  out  into  particulars."  "  Until  this  time  punishments 
in  many  instances  had  been  uncertain  and  arbitrary.  They  had 
been  left-Avhollv  to  the  discretion  of  the  court."— Trumbull,  i,  177. 


52  The  Journal  of 

iieorro  to  liim.  He  ask  him.  You  sirrah,  why  did 
You  steal  this  man's  Hoggshead  ?  Hoggshead, 
(replys  the  Indian,)  me  no  stomany.^  No  ?  says 
his  Worship;  and  pulling  off  his  hatt,  Patted  his 
own  head  with  his  hand,  sais,  Tatapa'-  —  You, 
Tatapa —  you ;  all  one  this.  Hoggshead  all  one 
this.  Hah  !  says  Netop,"  noAv  me  stomany  that. 
Whereupon  the  Company  fell  into  a  great  fitt  of 
Laughter,  even  to  Roreing.  Silence  is  comand- 
ed,  but  to  no  effect:  for  they  continued  perfectly 
Shouting.  Nay,  sais  his  worship,  in  an  angry 
tone,  if  it  be  so,  take  mee  off  the  Bench. 

Their  Diversions  in  this  part  of  the  Country 
are  on  Lecture  days  and  Training  daj'S  mostly  : 
on  the  former  there  is  Riding  from  town  to 
town. 

And  on  training  dayes  The  Youth  divert 
themselves  by  Shooting  at  the  Target,  as  they 
call  it,   (but  it  very  much  resembles  a  pillory,) 

1  Query :  Corruption  of  iinderstand. 

2  Tatta  pitch  is  said  to  mean :  I  cannot  tell. —  Roirer  Williams 
Key,  Mass.  Historical  Collections,  1st  series,  v,  89. 

3  "What  cheer  Net  op,  is  the  general  salutation  of  all  English 
to  them.  Netopis  friend." — Roger  Williams  Key,  Mass.  Historical 
CoJhrtions,  1st  series,  ttt,  207. 


Madam  Knight-  5 


o 


where  liee  that  hitts  neerest  the  white  has  some 
yards  of  Red  Ribbiii  presented  him,  w'^^'  bemg 
tied  to  his  hattband,  the  two  ends  streeming 
down  his  back,  he  is  Led  away  in  Triumph,  w^^' 
great  apphiuse,  as  the  winners  of  the  Olympiack 
Games.  They  general h^^  marry  very  young : 
the  males  oftener  as  I  am  told  imder  twentie 
than  above;  they  generally  make  public  wed- 
ings,  and  have  a  Avay  something  singular  (as 
they  say)  in  some  of  them,  viz.  Just  before 
Joyning  hands  the  Bridegroom  quitts  the  place, 
who  is  soon  followed  by  the  Bridesmen,  and  as 
it  were,  dragg'd  back  to  duty — Ijeing  the  reverse 
to  y'^  former  practice  among  us,  to  steal  nr  Pride. 
There  are  great  plenty  of  Oysters  all  along 
by  the  sea  side,  as  farr  as  I  Rode  in  the  Collony, 
and  those  very  good.  And  they  Generally  lived 
very  well  and  comfortabh'  in  their  famelies. 
But  too  Indulgent  (especially  y^  farmers)  to 
their  slaves  :  sufering  too  great  familiarity  from 
them,  permitting  a"^  to  sit  at  Table  and  eat  with 
them,  (as  they  say  to  save  time,)  and  into  the  dish 
goes  the  black  hoof  as  freely  as  the  white  hand. 
Thov  told  me  that  there  was  a  firmer  lived  nere 


54  The  Journal  of 

the  Town  where  I  loclgcl  who  had  some  diflter 
ence  w*^  his  slave,  concerning  something  the 
master  had  promised  him  and  did  not  punctualy 
perform;  av"^  caused  some  hard  words  between 
them ;  But  at  length  they  put  the  matter  to 
Arbitration  and  Bound  themselves  to  stand  to 
the  award  of  such  as  they  named — w*^^  done, 
the  Arbitrators  Having  heard  the  Allegations 
of  both  parties,  Order  the  master  to  pay  40^  to 
black  face,  and  acknowledge  his  fault.  And  so 
the  matter  ended  :  the  poor  master  very  honest- 
ly standing  to  the  award/ 

There  are  every  Avliere  in  the  Towns  as  I 
passed,  a  Number  of  Indians  the  Natives  of  the 
Country,  and  are  the  most  salvage  of  all  the 
salvages  of  that  kind  that  I  had  ever  Seen  : 
little  or  no  care  taken  (as  I  heard  upon  enquiry) 
to  make  them  otherwise.  Tliey  have  in  some 
places  Landes  of  theire  owne,  and  Govern'd.by 
'  Law's  of  their  own  making ; —  they  marry  many 
wives  and  at  pleasure  put  them  awaj',  and  on 
the  y^  least  dislike  or  fickle  humor,  on  either 

^  From  this  little  incident  it  may  be  secu  that,  even  at  this  early 
time,  slavery,  in  Connecticut,  was  a  very  difTercnt  ih'mix  from 
the  system  vvhieh  has  existed  in  the  soutliern  part  of  our  country. 


Madam  Knight.  55 

side,  saving  stand  away  to  one  another  is  a 
sutficieiit  Divorce.  And  indeed  those  uncomely 
Stand  awaijs  are  too  much  in  Vougue  among  the 
English  in  this  (Indulgent  Colon)')  as  their 
Records  plentifully  prove,  and  that  on  very  tri- 
vial matters,  of  which  some  have  been  told  me, 
but  are  not  proper  to  be  Related  by  a  Female 
pen,  tlio  some  of  that  foolish  sex  have  had  too 
large  a  share  in  the  story.^ 

If  the  natives  committ  any  crime  on  their 
own  precints  among  themselves,  y'^  English 
takes  no  Cognezens  of.     But  if  on  the  English 

1  This  facility  for  obtaining  divorce  may  have  arisen  from  the 
degradation  of  marriage  to  a-  mere  civil  contract  entered  into  be- 
fore a  magistrate.  It  was  certainly  iu  striking  contrast  with  the 
strictness  which  could  lead  a  grand  iwv^  to  present  a  young  man 
and  woman  "for  sitting  together  on  the  Lord's  day  under  an  apple 
tree."  Unfortunately  the  same  facility  has  continued  to  the  pre- 
sent time  in  this  "indulgent" colony."  Courts  can  divorce  for  a 
desertion  of  three  years,  for  habitual  drunkenness  and  for  such 
misconduct  as  permanently  destroys  the  Jinppiness  of  the  other  party 
and  defeats  the  purposes  of  the  nuuriage  relation  !  While  a  standing 
committee  of  every  legislature  was  until  rocentlj^  at  the  scyvice 
of  such  persons  as  could  not  meet  even  the  easy  requirements 
for  judicial  relief.  And  these  divorces  were  all  u  rinculo.  The 
present  governor  of  that  state  officially  speaks  of  these  practices 
as:  "a  scandal  upon  our  reputation  and  a  reproach  to  our  mor- 
als and  our  religion." 


5C  The  Journal  of 

ground,  tliev  are  punishable  by  our  Laws.  The}- 
mourn  for  their  Dead  by  blacking  their  faces, 
and  cuttina*  their  hair,  after  an  Awkerd  and 
friohtfull  manner;  But  can't  bear  You  should 
mention  the  names  of  their  dead  Relations  to 
them  :  thev  trade  most  for  Rum.  for  w'^'  the\  '^ 
hazzard  their  very  lives ;  and  the  English  fit 
them  Generally  as  well,  by  seasoning  it  plenti- 
fullv  with  water. 

They  nive  the  title  of  merchant  to  everv 
trader;  who  Rate  their  Goods  according  to  the 
time  and  spetia  the}'  pay  in  :  viz.  Pay,  u^oi^y? 
Pay  as  mony,  and  trusting.  Paij  is  Grain,  Pork, 
Beef,  &c.  at  the  prices  sett  by  the  General  Court 
that  Year  ;^  mony  is  pieces  of  Eight,  Ryalls,  or 
Boston  or  Bay  shillings  (as  they  call  them.)  or 
Good  hard  money,  as  sometimes  silver  coin  is 
termed  by  them;  also  Wampom,  viz^  Indian 
beads  w^^  serves  for  change.  Paf/  as  mouTj  is 
provisions,  as  afores'^  one  Third   cheaper  then 

^In  laying  taxes,  or  rates,  the  general  court  often  provided 
that  thev  might  be  paid  in  wheat  or  certain  other  agricultural 
products,  at  specified  prices.  For  instances  see  Connecticut  Public^ 
Records  (1655-77)  369,  322. 


Madam  Knigut.  57 

as  the  Assembly  or  Geiie^  Court  setts  it;  and 
Trust  as  they  and  the  merch*  agree  for  time. 

Now,  when  the  buyer  comes  to  ask  for  a 
comodity,  sometimes  before  the  merchant  an- 
swers that  he  has  it,  he  sais,  is  Your  ixty  redy  ? 
Perhaps  the  Chap  Reply's  Yes :  what  do  You 
pay  in  ?  say's  the  merchant.  The  buyer  havins; 
answered,  then  the  price  is  set;  as  suppose  he 
wants  a  sixpenny  knife,  in  pay  it  is  12d  —  in  pay 
as  money  eight  pence,  and  hard  money  its  own 
price,  viz.  Gd.  It  seems  a  very  Intricate  way  of 
trade  and  what  Lex  Mercatoria  had  not  thought 

of 

Being  at  a  merchants  house,  in  comes  a  tall 
country  fellow  w"'  his  alfogeos^  full  of  Tobacco ; 
for  they  seldom  Loose  their  Cudd.  but  keep 
Chewing  and  Spitting  as  long  as  they'r  eyes  are 
open  —  he  advanc't  to  the  midle  of  the  Room, 
makes  an  Awkward  Nodd,  and  spitting  a  Large 
deal  of  Aromatick  Tincture,  he  gave  a  scrape 
with  his  shovel  like  shoo,  leaving  a  small  shovel 

^Tliis  word  is  probably  a  corruption  of  the  Spanish  alforja, 
saddlebag,  portmanteau,  or  of  the  Portuguese  alforgcn  (plural),  a 
wallet  or  bag,  usually  for  provisions;  and  it  here  seems  to  mean  a 
tobacco  pouch. 

8 


58  The  Jouknal  of 

full  of  dirt  on  the  floor,  made  a  full  stop,  Hugg- 
ing his  own  pretty  Body  with  his  hands  under 
his  arms,  Stood  staring  rown'd  him,  like  a  Catt 
let  out  of  a  Baskett.     At  last,  like  the  creature 
Balaam  Rode  on,  he  opened  his  mouth  and  said : 
have  You  any  Ribinen  for  Hatbands  to  sell  I 
pray  ?     The  Questions  and   Answers  about  the 
pay  being  past,  the  Ribin  is  bro't  and  opened. 
Bumpkin  Simpers,  cryes  its  confounded  Gay  T 
vow ;  and  beckning  to  the  door,  in  comes  Jone 
Tawdry,  dropping  about  50  curtsees,  and  stands 
by  him :  hee  shows  her  the  Riljin.     Law   You, 
sais  shee,  its  rigJit   Gent,  do  You  take  it,  tls  dread- 
full  pretty.     Then  she  enquires,  Jiave   You  any 
hood  sdk  I  pray  ?  v/'^  being  brought  and  bought. 
Have  You  any  tJired  sill-to  seiu  it  iv"'  says  shee, 
w*'^  being  accomodated  w*^  they  Departed.  They 
Generaly  stand  after  they  come  in  a  great  while 
speachless,  and  sometimes  dont  say  a  Avord  till 
they  are  askt  what  they  w^ant,  which  I  Impute 
to  the  Awe  they  stand  in  of  the  merchants,  who 
they  are  constantly  almost  Indebted  too;  and 
must  take  what  they  bring  without  Liberty  to 
choose  for  tliemselves;  but  they  serve  them  as 


Madam  Knight.  59   . 

well,  making  the  merchants  stay  long  enough 
for  their  pay. 

We  may  Observe  her^the  great  necessity  and 
bennifitt  both  of  Education  and  Conversation; 
for  these  people  have  as  Large  a  portion  of 
mother  witt,  and  sometimes  a  T^arger,  than  those 
who  have  bin  brought  up  in  Citties;  But  for 
want  of  emprovements,  Render  themselves  al- 
most Ridicules,  as  alcove. ^  I  should  be  glad  if 
they  would  leave  such  follies,  and  am  sure  all 
that  Love  Clean  Houses  (at  least)  would  be  glad 

on't  too. 

They  are  generaly  very  plain  in  their  dress, 
throuout  all  y°  Colony,  as  I  saw,  and  follow  one 
another  in  their  modes ;  that  You  may  know 
where  they  belong,  especially  the  women,  meet 
them  where  you  will. 

Their  Cheif  Red  Letter  day  is  St.  Election,' 
\y^^  is  annualy  Observed  according  to  Charter, 
to  choose  their  Goven' :    a  blessing  they   can 

^From  the  tone  of  this  sentiment  one  might  thinlv  that  Madam 
Knight  had  already  commenced  her  school  keeping. 

2 "It  was  first  the  custom  and  afterwards  the  order  that  the 
ministers  of  the  gospel  should  preach  a  sermon  on  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  the  choice  of  civil  rulers."  — Bancroft's  Hist,  in,  G9. 


60  The.  Journal  of 

never  be  thimkfull  enough  for,  as  they  will  find 
if  ever  it  be  their  hard  fortune  to  loose  it.^  The 
present  Govenor  in  Conecticott  is  the  Hon^^°  John 
Winthrop,  Esq."  A  Gentleman  of  an  Ancient  and 
Honourable  Family,  whose  Father"  was  Gove- 
nor here  sometime  before,  and  his  Grand  father 
had  bin  Gov""  of  the  Massachusetts.  This  gen- 
tleman is  a  very  curteous  and  afable  person, 
much  Given  to  Hospitality,  and  has  by  his  Good 
services  Gain'd  the  affections  of  the  people  as 
much  as  any  who  had  bin  before  him  in  that 
post. 

Dec""  6tli.     Being  by  this  time  well  Recruited 
and  rested  after  my  Journy,  my  business   lying 

1  The  allusion  here  is  to  the  proceedings  on  the  part  of  Lord 
Cornbury  and  Gov.  Dudley  to  take  away  the  Connecticut  charter ; 
in  which  they  were  favored  by  the  difficulties,  arising  out  of  the 
Liveen  will.  —  Bancroft's  iZfef.  in,  70.  Trumbull's  i/«^  i,  417. 
Miss  Caulkins'  New  London,  chap.  xv. 

2  Major  General  Fitz-John  Winthrop  was  elected  Governor  of 
Connecticut  in  1698.  He  was  born  in  1638,  and  died  at  Boston 
in  1707.  He  had  been  the  Commander-in-chief  of  the  imfortunate 
expedition  against  Canada  in  1690.  Perhaps  the  ill-will  felt  to- 
wards him  in  New  York  on  account  of  that  failure  increased  his 
popularity  in  Connecticut. 

3  John  Winthrop  "  the  younger." 


Madam  Knight.  61 

unfinished    by    some   concerns    at   New    York 
depending  thereupon,  my   Kinsmcan,  Mr.  Tho- 
mas Trowbridge^  of  New  Haven,    must  needs 
take  a  Journy  there  before  it  could  be  accom- 
pUshed,  I  resolved  to  go  there  in  company  w^^ 
him,  and  a  man  of  the  town  w^^  I  engaged  to 
wait  on  me  there.     Accordingly,  Dec.  G"^  we  set 
out  from  New  Haven,  and  about  11  same  morn- 
ing came  to  Stratford  ferry^ ;  w^^  crossing,  about 
two  miles  on  the  other  side  Baited  our  horses 
and  would  have  eat  a  morsell  ourselves.  But  the 
Pumpkin  and  Indian  mixt  Bred'^  had  such  an 
Aspect,  and  the  Bare-legg'd  Punch  so  awkerd  or 
rather  Awfull  a  sound,  that  we  left  both,  and 
proceeded  forward,   and   about  seven  at  night 
come  to  Fairfield,  where  we  met  with  good  en- 
tertainment and  Lodg'd ;  and  early  next  morn- 
ing set  forward   to   Norowalk,^  from   its  halfe 
Indian  name  Nortli-walk,  when  about  12  at  noon 

1  Thomas  Trowbridge,  son  of  Thomas  and  of  Sarah  Rutherford, 
his  wife,  born  Feb.  14, 1664.     Savage's  Genealogical  Dictionary. 

2  See  Conn.  Public  Records  (1655-77)  136,  253. 

3  Bread  made  of  Indian  meal  with  a  mixture  of  pumpkin. 
*Narawaalc,  now  Norway,  has  the  same  origin  and  meaning 

with  Norridgewock;  from  nara,  still  water   below  falls,  tcampi 
clear,  ack,  locatiye.  —  Histoiical  Magazine,  ix,  91. 


62  The  Journal  of 

we  arrived,  and  Had  a  Dinner  of  Fryed  Venison, 
very  savoury.     Landlady  wanting  some  joepper 
in  the  seasoning,  bid  the  Girl  hand  her  the  spice 
in  the  little  Gay  cupp  on  y*^  shelfe.  From  hence 
we  Hasted  towards  Rye,  walking  and  Leading 
our  Horses  neer  a  mile  together,  up  a  prodigios 
high  Hill;    and  so  Riding  till    about  nine    at 
night,  and  there  arrived  and  took  up  our  Lodg- 
ings at  an  ordinary,  w'^'  a  French   family  kept. 
Here  being  very  hungry,  I  desired  a  fricasee  w"'' 
the  Frenchman  undertakeing,  managed  so  con- 
trary to  my  notion  of  Cookery,  that  I  hastned 
to  Bed  superless ;  And  being  shewd  the  way  up 
a  pair  of  stairs  w'^'  had  such  a  narrow  passage 
that  I  had  almost  stopt  by  the  Bulk  of  my  Body, 
But  arriving  at  my  apartment  found  it  to  be  a 
little  Lento   Chamber  furnisht  amongst  other 
Rubbish  with  a  High  Bedd  and  a  Lov/  one,  a 
Long  Table,  a  Bench  and  a  Bottomless  chair, — 
Little  Miss  went  to  scratch  up  my  Kennell  w"'' 
Russelled  as  if  shee'd  bin  in  the  Barn  amongst 
the  Husks,  and  supose^uch  was  the  contents  of 
the  tickin  —  nevertheless  being  exceeding  weary, 
down  I  laid  my  poor  Carkes  (never  more  tired) 


Madam  Knight.  63 

and   found   my  Covering  as  scanty   as  my  Bed 
was  hard.     Annon  I  heard  another  EusselUng 
noise  in  Y°  Room — called  to  know  the  matter 
—  Little  miss  said  shee  was  making  a  bed  for 
the  men ;  who,  when  they  were  in  Bed,  com- 
plained their  leggs  lay  out  of  it  by  reason  of  its 
shortness  —  my  poor  bones  complained  bitterly 
not  being  used  to  such  Lodgings,  and  so  did  the 
man  who  was  with  us ;  and  poor  I  made  but 
one  Grone,  which  was  from  the  time  I  went  to 
Ijed  to  th )  time  I  Riss,  which  was  about  three 
in  the  morning,  Setting  up  by  the  Fire  till  Light, 
and  having  discharged  our  ordinary  w'^'  was  as 
dear  as  if  we  had  had  far  Better  fare— we  took 
our  leave  of  Monsier  and  about  seven  in  the 
morn  come  to  New  Rochell  a  french  town,  where 
we  had  a  good  Breakfast.     And  in  the  strength 
of  that   about  an   how'r  before   sunsett  got  to 
York.     Here  I  applyd  myself  to  Mr.  Burroughs,^ 
a  merchant  to  whom  I  was  recommended  by  my 
Kinsman  Capt.  Prout,  and  received  great  Civil- 

1  Probably  Thomas  Burrouglis,  a  prominent  Merchant.  Valen- 
tine's mstonj  of  New  Tori;  219.  In  a  census  taken  in  1703  his 
name  appears  as  a  resident  of  Dock  AVard.  Doonnentary  Ilidory 
of  iV.  F.,  I,  611.     lie  was  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  chm'ch. 


64  The  Journal  of 

ities  from  him  and  his  spouse,  who  were  now 
both  Deaf  but  very  agreeable  in  their  Conversa- 
tion, Diverting  me  with  pleasant  stories  of  their 
knowledge  in   Brittan  from  whence  they  both 
come,  one  of  which  was   above   the  rest  very 
pleasant  to  me  viz.  my  Lord  Darcy  had  a  very 
extravagant  Brother  who  had  mortgaged  Avhat 
Estate  hee  could  not  sell,  and  in  good  time  dyed 
leaving  only  one  son.     Him  his  Lordship  (hav- 
ing none  of  his  own)  took  and  made  him  Heir 
of  his  whole  Estate,  which  he  was  to  receive  at 
the  death  of  his  Aunt.     He  and  his  Aunt  in  her 
widowhood  held  a  right  understanding  and  lived 
as  become  such  Relations,  shee  being  a  discreat 
Gentlewoman  and  he  an  Ingenios  Young  man. 
One  day  Hee  fell  into  some  Company  though  tar 
his  inferiors,  very  freely  told  him  of  the  111  cir- 
cumstances his  fathers  Estate  lay  under,  and  the 
many  Debts  he  left  unpaid  to  the  wrong  of  poor 
people  with   whom  he  had  dealt.     The  Young 
gentleman  was  put  out  of  countenance  — no  way 
hee    could    think  of  to   Redress  himself — his 
whole  dependance  being  on  the  Lady  his  Aunt, 
and  how  to  speak  to  her  he  knew  not  —  Hee 


Madam  Knight.  65 

went  home,  sat  down,  to  dinner  and  as  usual 
sometimes  with  her  when  the  ChapLain  was 
absent,  she  desired  him  to  say  Grace,  w'^'  he  did 
after  this  manner : 

Pray  God  in  Mercy  take  my  Lady  Darcy 

Unto  his  Heavenly  Throne, 
That  Little  John  may  live  like  a  man, 

And  pay  every  man  his  own. 

The  prudent  Lady  took  no  present  notice,  But 
finishd  dinner,   after  w'^  having  sat  and  talk't 
awhile  (as  Customary)  He  Riss,  took  his  Ilatt 
and  Going  out  she  desired  him  to  give  her  leave 
to  speak  to  him  in  her  Clossett,  Where  being 
come  she  desired  to  know  Tvhy  hee  prayed  for 
her  Death  in  the  manner  aforesaid,  and  what 
part  of  her  deportment  towards  him  merritted 
such  desires.     Hee  Reply'd,  none  at  all,  But  he 
was  under  such  disadvantages  that  nothing  but 
that  could  do  him  service,  and  told  her  how  he 
had  been  affronted  as  above,  and  what  Impres- 
sions it  had  made  upon  him.     The  Lady  made 
him  a  gentle  reprimand  that  he  had  not  inform- 
ed her  after  another  manner.  Bid  him  see  what 
his  father  owed   and  he  should  have  money  to 

9 


66  The  Journal  of 

pay  it  to  a  penny,  And  always  to  lett  lier  know 
his  wants  and  lie  should  have  a  redy   supply. 
The  Young  Gentleman  charm'd  with  his  Aunts 
Discrete  management,  Beggd   her  pardon   and 
accepted  her.  kind  offer  and  retrieved  his  fathers 
Estate,  &c.  and  said  Hee  hoped  his  Aunt  would 
never  dye,  for  shee  had  done  l^etter  by  him  than 
hee  could  have  done  for  himself. — Mr.  Burroughs 
went  with  me  to  Vendue  where  I  bought  about 
100  Rheem  of  paper  w*^^  was  retaken  in  a  fly  boat 
from  Holland  and  sold  ver}^  Reasonably  here  — 
some  ten,  some  Eight  shillings  per  Rheem  by  the 
Lott  Av*=^  was  ten  Rheem  in  a  Lott.     And  at  the 
Vendue  I   made  a  great  many    acquaintances 
amongst  the    good  women   of  .the   town,    who 
curteosly  invited  me  to  their  houses  and  gener- 
ously entertained  me. 

The  Cittie  of  New  York  is  a  pleasant  well 
compacted  place,  situated  on  a  Commodius  River 
w*^^  is  a  fine  harbour  for  shipping.  The  Build- 
ings Brick  Generaly,  very  stately  and  high, 
though  not  altoa'ether  like  ours  in  Boston.  The 
Bricks  in  some  of  the  Houses  are  of  divers  Coul- 
lersand  laid  in  Checkers,  being  glazed  look  very 


Madam  Knight.  67 

agreeable.     The  inside  of  them  are  neat  to  ad- 
miration,  the  wooden  work,  for  only  the  walls 
are  plasterd,   and  the    Sumers  and    Gist^    are 
plahied  and  kept  very  white  scowr'd  as  so  is  all 
the  partitions  if  made  of  Bords.    The  fire  places 
have  no  Jamljs  (as  ours  have)    Bnt  the  Backs 
run  Hush  witli  the  walls,  and  the  Hearth  is  of 
Tyles  and  is  as  farr  out  into  the  Room  at  the 
Ends  as  before  the  fire,  ^^'''  is  Generally  Five 
foot  in   the   Low'r  rooms,  and   the  peice  over 
where  the  mantle  tree  should  be  is  made  as  ours 
with  Joyners  work,  and  Jis  I  supose  is  fasten'd 
to  iron    rodds  inside.     The   House  where    the 
Vendue  was,  had  Chimney  Corners  like  ours, 
and  they  and  the  hearths  were  laid  w^^  the  finest 
tile  that  I  ever  see,  and  the  stair  cases  laid  alU 
with  white  tile  which  is  ever  clean,'  and  so  are 

1  Summers  and  joist.  The  summer,  a  word  not  now  in  very 
common  use,  was  a  central  beam  supporting  tlie  joist;  such  as  is 
now  sometimes  called  the  beanng-beam. 

2Tlic  tiles  were  set  into  the  wall;  forming,  as  it  were,  a  con- 
tinuous border,  or  row,  of  the  width  of  one  tile  (or  perhaps  some- 
times of  more),  close  to  the  upper  line  of  the  staircase. 

The  Coeymans  house,  standing  on  tlic  bank  of  the  Hudson, 
just  north  of  the  village  of  Coeymans,  still  shows  most  of  these 
peculiarities  of  building  mentioned  by  Madam  Knight:-  the 


68  The  Journal  of 

the  walls  of  the  Kitchen  w'^'  had  a  Brick  floor. 
They  were  making  Great  preparations  to  Re- 
ceive their  Govenor,  Lord  Cornbury  from  the 
Jersevs,  and  for  that  End  raised  the  militia  to 
Gard  him  on  shore  to  the  fort.^ 

They  are  Generaly  of  the  Church  of  England 
and  have  a  New  England  Gentleman  ^  for  their 
minister,  and  a  very  fine  chnrch  set  out  with  all 
Customary  requsites.  There  are  also  a  Dutch  ^ 
and  Divers  Conventicles  as  they  call  them,  viz. 

staircase  laid  with  tiles ;  no  plaster  except  on  the  walls ;  and 
heavy  floor-timbers,  strengthened  at  the  ends  by  solid  knees, 
planed  and  "kept very  white  scoured." 

iQn  the  block  between  Bowling  Green,  Whitehall,  Bridge  and 
State  streets.  —Valentine's  lIMory  of  Neic  York,  28. 

2  William  Vesey,  previously  "  a  dissenting  preacher  on  Long 
Island.     He  had  received  his  education  in   Harvard  under  that 

*  rigid  Independent,  Increase  Mather,  and  was  sent  from  thence  by 
him  to  confirm  the  minds  of  those  who  had  removed  for  their 
convenience  from  New  England  to  this  Province.  *  *  * 
But  Col.  Fletcher,  who  saw  into  his  design,  took  ofl"  Mr.  Vesey 
by  an  invitation  to  this  Living  ;  *  *  *  and  Mr.  Vesey 
returned  from  England  in  Priest's  ov(\Q\-&r  —  Documentary  History 
of  New  Tori,  iii,  438. 

3  The  Reformed  Dutch  Church  built  in  1693  in  what  is  now 
Exchange  Place.  — Greenleaf's  History  of  N.  Y.  Churches.  11. 


Madam  Knight.  69 

• 

Baptist/  Quakers;-  &c.     They  are  not  strict  in 
keeping  the    Sabbath  as  in    Boston  and   other 
phices  where  I  had  bin,  But  seem  to  deal  with 
o-reat  exactness  as  farr  as  I  see  or  Dealt  with. 
They  are  sociable  to  one  another  and  Curteos 
and   Civill  to  strangers  and  fare  well  in  their 
houses.     The    English   go  very  fasheonable  in 
their  dress.     Dut  the  Dutch,  especially  the  mid- 
dhng  sort,  difler  from  our  women,  in  their  habitt 
o'o  loose,   were    French  muches  w'^  are  like  a 
Capp  and  a  head  band  in  one,  leaving  their  ears 
bare,  which  are  sett  out  w*^  Jewells  of  a  large 
size  and  many  in  number.     And  their  fingers 
hoop't  with  Rings,  some  with   large  stones  in 
them  of  many  Coullers  as  were  their  pendants 
in  their  ears,  which  You  should  see  very  old 
women  wear  as  well  as  Young. 

They    have    Vendues   very   frequently    and 

1  Greenleaf  however  gives  1799  as  the  first  Baptist  preaching  ; 
that  of  Wickenclen.  A  petition  of  Nichohis  Eyres  states  that  in 
1715  his  house  was  registered  for  an  anabaptist  meeting  house.  — 
Dxumentary  History  of  Neic  York,  iii,  480.' 

2  The  first  Friends'  Meeting  House,  a  small'frame  building, 
standing  on  Little  Green  Street,  is  said  to  have  been  erected  in 
1696  or  lion.  — Greenleaf,  116. 


70  The  Journal  of 

• 

make  their  Earnings  very  well  loy  them,  for  they 
treat  with  good  Liquor  Liberally,  and  the  Cust- 
omers  Drink  as   Liberally  and   Generally  pay 
for't  as  well,  by  paying  for  that  which  they  Bidd 
up  Briskly  for,  after  the  sack  has  gone  plenti- 
fully about,  tho'  sometimes  good  penny  worths 
are  got  there.     Their  Diversions  in  the  Winter 
is  Ridino'  Slevs  about  three  or  four  Miles  out  of 
Town,  where  they  have    Houses  of  entertain- 
ment at  a  place  called  the  Bowery,'  and  some  go 
to  friends  Houses  who  handsomely  treat  them. 
Mr.  Burroughs  carry'd  his  spouse  and  Daughter 
and  myself  out  to  one  Madame  Dowes,  a  Gentle- 
woman that  lived  at  a  farm  House,  who  gave 
us  a   handsome    Entertainment   of  five  or   six 
Dishes  and  choice  Beer  and  methegUn,  Cyder, 
&c.  all  which  she  said  was  the  produce  of  her 
hirni.     I  believe  we  mett  50  or  GO  slays  that 
day — they  fly  with  great  swiftness  and  some 
are  so  furious  that  they'le  turn  out  of  the  path 

i"A  small  tavern  stood  on  the  banks  of  the  Harlem  river. 
This  tavern  was  the  occasional  point  of  excnrsion  for  riding 
parties  from  the  City  and  was  known  as  the  '  Wedding  Place.' 
One  or  two  small  taverns  were  on  the  road  between  the  town  and 
the  Bowery."  —Valentine's  UMory  of  Neic  Tori;  69. 


Madam  Knight.  71 

for  none  except  a  Loaden  Cart.  Nor  do  they 
si^are  for  any  diversion  the  place  afibrds,  and  so- 
ciable to  a  degree,  they'r  Tables  being  as  free  to 
their  Naybours  as  to  themselves. 

Having  here  transacted  the  affiiir  I  Avent 
npon  and  some  other  that  fell  in  the  way,  after 
about  a  fortnight's  stay  there  I  left  New  York 
with  no  Little  regrett,  and  Thursday,  Dec.  21, 
set  out  for  New  Haven  w'^  my  Kinsman  Trow- 
bridge, and  the  man  that  ^Yaited  on  me  about 
one  afternoon,  and  about  three  come  to  half-way 
house  about  ten  miles  out  of  town,  ^vhere  we 
Baited  and  went  forward,  and  about  5  come  to 
Spiting  Devil,  Else  Kings  bridge,  where  they 
pay  three  pence  for  passing  over  with  a  horse, 
which  the  man  that  keeps  the  Gate  set  up  at  the 
end  of  the  Bridge  receives. 

We  hoped  to  reach  the  french  town  and  Lodg 
there  that  night,  but  unhapily  lost  our  way 
about  four  miles  short,  and  being  overtaken  Ijy 
a  great  storm  of  wind  and  snow  wdiich  set  full 
in  our  faces  about  dark,  we  were  very  uneasy. 
But  meeting  one  Gardner  who  lived  in  a  Cot- 
tage  thereabout,  offered  us  his  fire  to  set   by. 


72  The  Journal  of 

having  but  one  poor  Bedel,  and  his  wife  not  well, 
&c.  or  he  would  go  to  a  House  with  us,  where 
he  thought  we  might  be  better  accommodated 
—  thither  we  went,  But  a  surly  old  shee  Crea- 
ture, not  worthy  the  name  of  woman,  who 
would  hardly  let  us  go  into  her  Door,  though 
the  weather  was  so  stormy  none  but  shee  would 
have  turnd  out  a  Dogg.  But  her  son  whose 
name  was  gallop,  who  lived  Just  by  Invited  us 
to  his  house  and  shewed  me  two  pair  of  stairs, 
viz.  one  up  the  loft  and  tother  up  the  Bedd,  w*"^ 
was  as  hard  as  it  was  high,  and  warmed  it  with 
a  hott  stone  at  the  feet.  I  lay  very  uncomfort- 
ably, insomuch  that  1  was  so  very  cold  and  sick 
I  was  forced  to  call  them  up  to  give  me  some- 
thing to  warm  me.  They  had  nothing  but  milk 
in  the  house,  w""''  they  Boild,  and  to  make  it  bet- 
ter sweetened  w**^  molasses,  which  I  not  know- 
ing or  thinking  oft  till  it  was  down  and  coming 
up  agen  w*"''  it  did  in  so  plentifuU  a  manner  that 
my  host  was  soon  paid  double  for  his  portion, 
and  that  in  specia.  But  I  believe  it  did  me 
service  in  Cleering  my  stomach.  ''So  after  this 
sick  and  weary  night  at  East  Chester,  (a  very 


Madam  Knight.  73 

miserable  poor  place, )  the  weather  being  now 
fair,  Friday  the  22-^  Dec.  we  set  out  for  New  Ro- 
chell,  where  being  come  we  had  good  Entertain- 
ment and  Recruited  ourselves  very  well.  This 
is  a  very  pretty  place  well  compact,  and  good 
handsome  houses,  Clean,  good  and  passable 
Rodes,  and  situated  on  a  Navigable  River,  abun- 
dance of  land  well  fined  and  Cleerd  all  along  as 
wee  passed,  which  caused  in  me  a  Love  to  the 
place,  w'^^'  I  could  have  been  content  to  live  in  it. 
Here  wee  Ridd  over  a  Bridge  made  of  one  entire 
stone  of  such  a  Breadth  that  a  cart  might  pass 
with  safety,  and  to  spare  —  it  lay  over  a  passage 
cutt  through  a  Rock  to  convey  water  to  a  mill 
not  farr  off.  Here  are  three  fine  Taverns  with- 
in call  of  each  other,  very  good  provision  for 
Travailers. 

Thence  we  travailed  through  Merrinak,^  a 
neet,  though  little  place,  w*^  a  navigable  River 
before  it,  one  of  the  pleasantest  I  ever  see  — 
Here  were  good  Buildings,  Especialy  one,  a 
very  fine  seat,  w'^^  they  told  me  was  Col.  Heth- 

1  Mamaroneck. 

10 


74  The  Journal  of 

coats/  who  I  had  heard  was  a  very  fine  Gentle- 
man. From  hence  we  come  to  Hors  Neck," 
where  wee  Baited,  and  they  told  me  that  one 
Church  of  England  parson  officiated  in  all  these 
three  towns  once  every  Sunday  in  turns  through- 
out the  Year ;  and  that  they  all  could  but  poorly 
maintaine  him,  which  they  grudg'd  to  do,  being 
a  poor  and  quarelsome  crew  as  I  understand  by 
our  Host ;  their  Quarelling  about  their  choice 
of  Minister,  they  chose  to  have  none — But 
caused  the  Government  to  send  this  Gentleman 
to  them.  Here  wee  took  leave  of  York  Govern- 
ment, and  Descending  the  Mountainos  passage 
that  almost  broke  my  heart  in  ascending  before, 
we  come  to  Stamford,  a  well  compact  Town,  but 
miserable  meeting  house,  w'^^  we  passed,  and 
thro'  many  and  great  difficulties,  as  Bridges 
which  were  exceeding  high  and  very  tottering 
and  of  vast  Length,  steep  and  Rocky  Hills  and 
precipice^,  (  Buggbears  to  a  fearful  female  trav- 
ailer.)     About  nine  at  night  we  come  to  Norr- 

1  Col.  Caleb  Hcathcote,  of  Scarsdale  Manor.     See  Colonial  His- 
tory ofNeiD  York ;  passim. 

2  West  Greenwich. 


»« 


Madam  Knight.  75 

walk,  having  crept  over  a  timber  of  a  Broken 
Bridge^  about  thirty  foot  long,  and  perhaps  fifty 
to  y'^  water.  I  was  exceeding  tired  and  cold 
when  we  come  to  our  Inn,  and  could  get  noth- 
ing there  but  poor  entertainment,  and  the  Im- 
pertinant  Bable  of  one  of  the  worst  of  men, 
among  many  others  of  which  our  Host  made  one, 
who,  had  he  bin  one  degree  Impudenter,  would 
have  outdone  his  Grandfather.  And  this  I 
think  is  the  most  perplexed  night  I  have  yet 
had.  From  hence,  Saturday,  Dec.  23,  a  very 
cold  and  windy  day,  after  an  Intolerable  night's 
Lodging,  wee  hasted  forward  only  observing  in 
our  way  the  Town  to  be  situated  on  a  Naviga- 
ble river  w*^  indiferent  Buildings  and  people 
more  refind  than  in  some  of  the  Country  towns 
wee  had  passed,  tho'  vicious  enough,  the  Church 
and  Tavern  being  next  neighbours.  Having 
Bidd  thro  a  difficult  River  ^  wee  come  to  Fairfield 

1 A  committee  was  appointed  by  the  town  of  Norwalk  Februa- 
ly,  20,  1694-5  to  "take  an  exact  view  of  the  Bridge  over  Norwalk 
River  and  to  repaire  the  same,  cythcr  by  erecting  a  new  biidge,  or 
by  repairing  the  old."  —  Hall's  Noricalk  Records,  88. 

2  Probably  the  Sangatuck. 


76  The  Journal  of 

where  wee  Baited  and  were  mucli  refreshed  as 
well  with  the  Good  things  w"^  gratified  our  ap- 
petites as  the  time  took  to  rest  our  wearied 
Limbs,  w'*'  Latter  I  employed  in  enquiring  con- 
cerning the  Town  and  manners  of  the  people, 
&c.  This  is  a  considerable  town,  and  filld  as 
they  say  with  wealthy  people — have  a  spacious 
meeting  house  and  good  Buildings.  But  the 
Inhabitants  are  Litigious,  nor  do  they  well  agree 
with  their  minister,  who  ( they  say )  is  a  very 
worthy  Gentleman/ 

They  have  aboundance  of  sheep,  whose  very 
Dung  brings  them  great  gain,  with  part  of  which 
they  pay  their  Parsons  sallery.  And  they  Grudg 
that,  prefering  their  Dung  before  their  minister. 
They  Lett  out  their  sheep  at  so  much  as  they 
agree  upon  for  a  night;  the  highest  Bidder 
always  caries  them.  And  they  will  sufficiently 
Dung  a  Large  quantity  of  Land  before  morning. 

1  Joseph  Webb,  ordained  at  Fairfield  in  1694.  Even  before  his 
tune  the  General  Court  appointed  a  committee  "  to  improve  there 
best  abillities  to  settle  an  accomadation  between  the  people  and 
minister  of  Fayrefeild,  that  so  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  Mr.  Wake- 
man  may  continue  in  his  worke  there:'— Conn.  Public  Eecords,  240. 


Madam  Knight.  77 

But  were  once  Bitt  by  a  sharper  who  had  them 
a  night  and  sheared  them  all  before  morning  — 
From   hence  we   went  to  Stratford,   the   next 
Town,  in  which  I  observed  but  few  houses,  and 
those  not  very  good  ones.     But  the  people  that 
I  conversed  with  were  civill  and  good  natured. 
Here  we  staid  till  late  at  night,  being  to  cross  a 
Dangerous  River  ferry,  the  River^  at  that  time 
full  of  Ice ;  but  aft^r  about  four  hours  waiting 
with  great  difficulty  wee  got  over.     My  fears 
and  fatigues  prevented  my  here  taking  any  par- 
ticular observation.     Being   got  to   Milford,  it 
being  late  in  the  night,  I  could  go  no  further  j 
my  fellow  travailer  going  forward,  I  was  invited 

to  Lodg  at  Mrs.  ,  a  very  kind  and  civill 

Gentlewoman,  by  whom  I  was  handsomely  and 
kindly  entertained  till  the  next  night.  The 
people  here  go  very  plain  in  their  apparel  (more 
plain  than  I  had  observed  in  the  towns  I  had 
passed)  and  seem  to  be  very  grave  and  serious. 
They  told  me  there  was  a  singing  Quaker'  hved 

1  The  Housatonic. 

2"  One  Case  and  one  Banks,  two  lewd  men  called  singing  Qua- 
kers,  coming  througli  the  Colony,  singing  and  dancing,  accompa- 


78  The  Journal  of 

there,  or  at  least  had  a  strong  inchnation  to  be 
so,  His  Spouse  not  at  all  affected  that  way. 
Some  of  the  singing  Crew  come  there  one  day 
to  visit  him,  who  being  then  abroad,  they  sat 
down  (to  the  woman's  no  small  vexation)  Hum- 
ming and  singing  and  groneing  after  their  con- 
juring way — Says  the  woman  are  you  singing 
quakers?  Yea  says  They— Then  take  my 
squalling  Brat  of  a  child. here  and  sing  to  it 
says  she  for  I  have  almost  split  my  throat  w^^ 
singing  to  him  and  cant  get  the  Rogue  to  sleep. 
They  took  this  as  a  great  Indignity,  and  medi- 
ately departed.  Shaking  the  dust  from  their 
Heels  left  the  good  woman  and  her  Child  among 
the  number  of  the  wicked. 

This  is  a  Seaport  place  and  accomodated  with 
a  Good  Harbour,  But  I  had  not  opportunity  to 
make  particular  observations  because  it  was 
Sabbath  day — This  Evening.^ 

nied  with  a  uumber  of  women  to  assist  tlicm  in  their  musical 
exercises  and  especially  to  proclaim  how  their  lips  dropped  with 
myrrh  and  honey."— Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  ii,  36,  note. 

1  It  was  Saturday ;  and,  according  to  the  well  known  Connecti- 
cut custom,  the  "  Sabbath  "  commenced  at  "  sundown  "  on  Sat- 
urday. 


Madam  Knigut.  79 

December  24.'  I  set  out  with  the  Gentle- 
womans  son  who  she  very  civilly  offered  to  go 
with  me  when  she  see  no  parswasions  would 
cause  me  to  stay  which  she  pressingly  desired, 
and  crossing  a  ferry  having  but  nine  miles  to 
New  Haven,  in  a  short  time  arrived  there  and 
was  Kindly  received  and  well  accommodated 
amongst  my  Friends  and  Relations. 

The  Government  of  Connecticut  Collony  be- 
gins westward  towards  York  at  Stanford'^  (as  I 
am  told)  and  so  runs  Eastward  towards  Boston 
(I  mean  in  my  range,  because  I  dont  intend  to 
extend  my  description  beyond  my  own  travails) 
and  ends  that  way  at  Stonington  — And  has  a 
great  many  Large  towns  lying  more  northerly. 
It  is  a  plentiful  Country  for  provisions  of  all 
sorts  and  its  Generally  Healthy.  No  one  that 
can  and  will  be  dilligent  in  this  place  need  fear 
poverty  nor  the  want  of  food  and  Rayment. 

1  Madam  Knight  states  that,  arriving  at  Milford,  she  was  enter- 
tained till  the  next  night.  Probably  therefore  it  was  on  IMonday, 
the  2uth  of  December,  that  she  went  on  to  New  Haven,  and  the 
date  in  the  journal  is  erroneous. 

2  See  account  of  the  arbitration  in  1650,  as  to  the  boundary 
line.— Palfrey's  New  England,  n,  311. 


80  The  Journal  of 

January  6*^-     Being  now  well  Recruited  and 
fitt  for  business  I  discoursed  the  persons  I  was 
concerned  with,  that  we  might  finnish  in  order  to 
my  return  to  Boston.     They  delay^  as  they  had 
hitherto  done  hoping  to  tire  my  Patience.     But 
I  was  resolute  to  stay  and  see  an  End  of  the  mat- 
ter let  it  be  never  so  much  to  my  disadvantage 
— So  January  9th  they  come  again  and  promise 
the  Wednesday  following  to  go  through  with 
the  distribution  of  the  Estate   which  they  de- 
layed till  Thursday  and  then  come  with  new 
amusements.     But  at  length  by  the  mediation 
of  that  holy  good  Gentleman,  the    Rev.   Mr. 
James  Pierpont,^  the  minister  of  New  Haven, 
and  with  the  advice  and  assistance  of  other  our 
Good  friends  we  come  to  an  accommodation  and 
distribution,  which  having  finished  though  not 
till  February,  the  man  that  waited  on  me  to 

1  Rev.  James  Pierpont  was  graduated  at  Harvard,  and  in  1685 
was  ordained  at  New  Haven.  He  died  there  in  1714.  "  In  the 
pulpit  Mr.  Pierpont  was  distinguished  among  his  cotcmporaries. 
His  personal  appearance  was  altogether  prepossessing.  He  was 
eminent  in  the  gift  of  prayer.  His  doctrine  was  sound  and  dis- 
criminating and  his  style  was  clear,  lively  and  impressive."— 
Baron's  Ilistorical  Discourses. 


Madam  Knight.  81 

York  taking  the  cluirgc  of  me  I  sit  out  for  Bos- 
ton. We  went  from  New  Haven  upon  the  ice 
(the  ferry  being  not  passable  thereby)  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Pierpont  w^*"  Madam  Prout^  Cuzin 
Trowbridiie  and  divers  others  were  taking  leave 
wee  w^ent  onward  without  any  thing  Remarkabl 
till  wee  come  to  New  London  and  Lodged  again 
at  Mr.  Saltonstalls  — and  here  I  dismist  ray 
Guide,  and  my  Generos  entertainer  provided 
me  Mr.  Samuel  Rogers^  of  that  place  to  go  home 
with  me  —  I  stayed  a  day  here  Longer  than  I 
intended  by  the  Commands  of  the  Hon^''*'  Gove- 
nor  Winthrop  to  stay  and  take  a  supper  with 
him  whose  wonderful  civility  I  may  not  omitt. 

1  Jolm  Prout  of  New  Haven,  son  of  Timothy  Prout  of  Boston, 
married,  August  23, 1681,  Mary,  widow  of  Daniel  Hall  and  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Rutherford.  Sarah,  another  daughter,  was  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Trowbridge,  who  died  in  1702,  and  who  was  the 
fother  of  the  Thomas  Trowbridge  mentioned  by  Madam  Knight. 
Savage's  Gmeal.  Dictionary.  It  is  possible  therefore  that  Madam 
Knight's  relationsliip  witli  the  Prout  and  Trowbridge  families 
was  through  the  Rutherfords. 

2 There  were  many  of  this  family  name  at  New  Londo*.  One, 
possibly  a  brother  of  Madam  Knight's  companion,  was  the 
founder  of  a  strange  religious  sect,  of  local  notoriety ;  the  Rog- 

erenes. 

11 


82  The  Journal  of 

The  next  morning  I  Crossed  y^  Ferry  to  Groton, 
having  had  the  Honor  of  the  Company,  of  Mad- 
am Livingston^  (who  is  the  Govenors  Daughter) 
and  Mary  Christophers"^  and  divers  others  to  the 
boat — And  that  night  Lodg*^  at  Stonington  and 
had  Rost  Beef  and  pumpkin  sause  for  supper. 
The  next  night  at  Haven's  and  had  Rost  fowle, 
and  the  next  day  wee  come  to  a  river  wdiich  by 
Reason  of  Y*^  Freshetts  coming  down  w^as  swell'*^ 
so  high  wee  fear'^  it  impassable  and  the  rapid 
stream  w^as  very  terryfying — However  w^e  must 
over  and  that  in  a  small  Canoo.  Mr.  Rogers 
assuring  me  of  his  good  Conduct,  I  after  a  stay 

^Mary,  the  only  child  of  Fitz-John  Wintlirop,  the  Governor  of 
Connecticut,  was  the  wife  of  Lieut.  Col.  John  Livingston.  She 
died  at  Uncasville  a  few  miles  north  of  New  London,  January 
8th,  1713-13,  She  was  not  buried  until  the  16tli,  on  account  of 
the  inclemency  of  the  weather  and  the  depth  of  the  snow.  A  few 
months  after  her  death.  Col.  Livingston  married  Elizabeth,  the 
only  child  of  Madam  Knight,  mentioned  on  a  following  page. 

Col.  Livingston  came  from  New  York  to  Connecticut  after  the 
failure  of  the  expedition  to  Canada  in  1690,  sharing  the  blame 
which  was  thrown  on  Gen.  Winthrop.  He  resided  in  New  Lon- 
don till  1718,  and  then  went  to  England  where  he  died. 

2  Probably  the  daughter  of  Christopher  Christophers.  The 
family  of  this  name  was  large  and  influential  in  New  London 
and  was  connected  with  Madam  Knight  by  marriage. 


Madam  Knight.  83 

of  near  an  liow'r  on  the  shore  for  consultation 
went  into  the  Canoo,  and  Mr.  Rogers  paddled 
about  100  3-ards  up  the  Creek  by  the  shore  sid(3, 
turned  into  the  swift  stream  and  dexterously 
steering  her  in  a  moment  wee  come  to  the  other 
side  as  swiftly  passing  as  an  arrow  shott  out  of 
the  BoAV  by  a  strong  arm.      I  staid  on  y*"  shore 
till  Hee  returned  to  fetch  our  horses,  which  he 
caused  to  swim  over  himself  bringing  the  furni- 
ture in  the  Cannoo.     But  it  is  past  my  skill  to 
express  the  Exceeding  fright  all  their  transac- 
tions formed  in  me.    Wee  Avere  now  in  the  colo- 
ny of  the  Massachusetts  and  taking  Lodgings 
at  the  fir^t  Inn  we  come  too  had  a  pretty  diffi- 
cult passage  the  next  day  which  was  the  second 
of  March  by  reason  of  the  sloughy  ways  then 
thawed  by  the  Sunn.     Here  I  mett  Capt.  John 
Richards  of  Boston  who  was  going  home,   So 
being  very  glad  of  his  Company  we  Rode  some- 
thing harder  than  hitherto,  and  missing  my  way 
in  going  up  a  very  steep  Hill,  my  horse  dropt 
down  under  me  as  Dead  ;  this  new  surprize  no 
little  hurt  me  meeting  it  Just  at  the  Entrance 


84  The  Journal  of 

into  Dedliam  from  whence  we  intended  to  reach 
home  that  night.     But  was  now  obhged  to  gett 
another  Hors  there  and  leave  my  own,  resolv- 
ing for  Boston  that  night  if  possible.     But  in 
going  over  the  Causeway  at  Dedham  the  Bridge 
being  overflowed  by  the  high  waters  comming 
down  I  very  narrowly  escaped  falling  over  into 
the  river  Hors  and  all  w''^'  twas  almost  a  miracle 
I  did  not — now  it  grew  late  in  the   afternoon 
and  the  people  having  very  much  discouraged 
us  about  the  sloughy  way  w"^*"  they  said  wee 
should  find  very  difficult  and  hazardous  it   so 
wrought  on  mee  being  tired  and  dispirited  and 
disapointed  of  my  desires  of  going  home  that  I 
agreed  to  Lodg  there  that  night  w*^'^  wee  did  at 
the  house  of  one  Draper,  and  the  next  day  being 
March  od  wee  got  safe  home  to  Boston,  where  I 
found  my  aged  and  tender  mother  and  my  Dear 
and  only  Child ^  in  good  health  with  open  arms 
redy  to  receive  me,  and  my  Kind  relations  and 
friends  flocking  in  to  welcome  mee  and  liear  the 

1  Elizabeth,  Madam  Knight's  only  child,  then  about  seventeen, 
has  already  been  mentioned  in  the  preface  and  in  a  note.  In  the 
inventory  of  her  effects,  taken  after  her  death,  appear  the  items  ; 


Madam  Knight.  85 

story  of  my  transactions  and  travails  I  having 
this  day  bin  five  months  from  home  and  now  I 
cannot  fully  express  my  Joy  and  Satisfaction. 
But  desire  sincearly  to  adore  my  Great  Bene- 
factor for  thus  graciously  carying  forth  and  re- 
turning in  safety  his  unworthy  handmaid. 

a  negro  man  antl  woman  ;  an  Indian  man ;  silver  plate  £234,  13s ; 
several  rings  and  other  jewelry.  Acquittances  given  to  the  ad- 
ministratrix of  her  estate  are  signed  by  the  following  persons : 
Sarah  Bass  of  Boston,  widow  Mary  Bassett  of  Boston,  William 
Wyerand  Elinor,  his  wife  of  Charlestown,  Eobert  Luist,  shop- 
keeper, of  Charlestown,  James  Fluker  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  of 
Charlestown,  Thomas  Cheever  and  his  wife  Abigail  of  Chelsea. 
Miss  Caulkins'  History  of  Neic  London,  365,  and  her  letter  to  W. 
R.  D. 

Note  to  Providence  fewy,  page  26. 
Judge  Staples,  author  of  the  Annals  of  Providence,  is  of  opinion 
that  the  oldest  ferry  over  the  Seekonk  river  was  at  Narrow  Pas- 
sage, so  called,  near  where  the  bridge  now  is.  The  riding-over 
place  across  Moshassack  river  was  at  the  foot  of  Steeple  Street. 
See  further,  Annals  of  Providence,  196,  611.  A  glance  at  the  map 
shows  us  that  Madam  Knight  does  not  mention  all  the  rivers  or 
streams  she  must  have  passed  through.  E.  R.  r- 


oYd^   yAn^t^^/n/^ 


Ls)/ 


^f  Q '|fe^5Q  .'^fe^^Q  1^^4.1 


INDEX. 


Adams,  Eliphalet,  his  fuueral  discourse  on  Rev.  Gurdon  Salton- 

stall,  45. 
Alfogcos,  57. 

Antiquarian  subjects  unfashionable,  IG. 
Apponarg,  26 . 

Aj'rault,  a  French  Huguenot  physician,  36. 
Baptist  church  in  New  York,  69. 
Bass,  Sarah,  85. 
Bassett,  Mary,  85. 

Belcher,  Rev.  Joseph,  graduated  and  ordained,  20. 
Billings'  tavern,  where,  20,  22. 
Bowery  the,  70. 

Bradford,  Joseph,  joint  purchaser  of  land  with  Madam  Knight,  viii. 
Building,  style  of,  in  New  York,  67. 
Bull's  garrison  house,  36. 

Burroughs,  Thomas,  a  merchant  of  New  York,  63,  70. 
Caulkins,  Miss  Frances  R.,  her  History  of  N.  L.,  vii;  letter,  42, 
Cliamplin's  tavern,  38. 
Changes  since  1704, 17. 
Charlestown,  26,  36. 
Cheever,  Thomas,  85. 
Christophers,  Sarah,  ix;  Mary,  81. 
Clark,  Ann,  Madam  Knight's  maid,  vii. 
Coeymans  house  mentioned,  67. 
Connecticut,  boundaries  and  description  of,  79. 
Cornbury,  Lord,  60,  G8, 
Crocker,  Mrs  Hannah  Mather,  x. 
Cross'  mills,  formerly'  Davell's,  36. 
Darcy,  Lord,  story,  of,  64. 


88  Index. 

Davell  spelled  Devil,  37. 

Davell's  mills,  now  Cross'  mills,  36,  38. 

Dcadman's  spring,  36. 

Deane,  William  R.,  liis  article  on  Madam  Knigbt,  iv. 

Dedliam,  19 ;  causeway  at,  84. 

Devil's  Foot.rock,  celebrated  among  tlie  Indians,  33. 

Divorce,  freedom  of  in  Connecticut  among  whites  and  Indians,  55. 

Douglas  road  near  New  London,  47. 

Draper, ,  184. 

East  Greenwich,  26. 

Election  day,  59. 

Exeter,  35. 

Fairfield,  61. 

Fare  at  inns,  25,  83,  42, 45,  48,  61,  63,  73,  75,  82. 

Flukcr,  James,  85. 

Flyboat,  66. 

Fort  neck  and  Indian  fort  at  that  place,  37. 

Franklin,  Dr.,  said  to  have  been  a  scholar  of  Madam  Knight,  vi. 

French  physician,  35. 

Grafton,  Remember,  former  wife  of  Richard  Knight,  v. 

Guilford,  49. 

Haven's  tavern,  where  situated,  33. 

Heathcote,  Col.  Caleb,  74. 

Hunt's  river,  29. 

Huguenots,  settlement,  35. 

Immersion  alluded  to,  28. 

Indians  near  New  Haven,   condition  and  customs  of,  54 ;  crimes 

how  punished,  55  ;  mourning  of,  56;  eageraess  for  rum,  ih.  ; 

which  the  merchants  water  for  them,  ib. 
Introduction  to  first  edition,  15. 
Kemble,  John,  his  will,  iv. 

Journal,  when  printed,  iii;  how  preserved,  ix  ;  destroyed,  x. 
Kemble,  Thomas,   father  of  Madam  Knight,  his  residence  and 

business,  iv ;  house  in  Boston  demolished,  site  how  occupied, 

ib. ;  his  death  and  gravestone,  v  ;  house  sold,  vi. 
Killmgsworth,  48. 
Kingston,  new  road  through,  26,  35. 


Index.  89 

Kuight,  Eliziibelli,  only  child  of  Miulam  Knight,  her  birth,  in.-ir- 
riage,  death  and  gravestone,  vii ;  presents  her  mother's  in- 
ventory, X ;  inventory  of  her  effects,  85. 
Knight,  Madam,  her  birth,  iii ;  parents,  iv ;  marriage,  v ;   school, 
vi;  sold  her  house,  inscription  on  a  pane  of  glass,  ib. ;  her  ti- 
tle how  acquired,  ih.  and  15 ;  removal  to  Norwich  and  New 
London,  vii;  presents  a  cup  to  the  church  and  pew  voted  to 
her,  viii ;  presented  for  selling  strong  drink,  ib. ;  purchaser 
of  land,  iV;.;  pewholder  in  New  London,  ix;  kept  an  inn  on 
the  Norwich  road,  ih.;  her  death,  and  the  inventory  of  her 
estate,  ib. ;  a  witness  to  papers,  x  ;  her  character  and  accura- 
cy, xi ;  her  gravestone,  xii;  why  called  Madam  Knight,  15; 
sets  out  from  Boston,  19 ;  arrives  at  Dedhiun,  ih.  ;  visits  Mr. 
Belcher,  20;    reaches  Billings',  22  ;  goes  on  to  the  post's  sec- 
ond stage,  25 ;  proceeds  with  her  third  guide,  crosses  Provi- 
dence ferry  and  comes  to  a  river  at  Pawtuxet,  26  ;  fords  Mas- 
cachuge  river,  2!) ;  arrives  at  Haven's  tavern,  33 ;  sets  out  for 
Kings'ton,  35 ;    reaches  Devill's,  37  ;     Champlin's,  38 ;    and 
Paw°catuc  river,  39 ;  stays  at  Saxton's,  in  Stonington,  42 ;  ar- 
rives at  New  Loudon,  44 ;  at  Mrs.  Prentis'  and  at  Rev.  Gur- 
don  Saltonstall's,  45  ;  arrives  at  Saybrook  ferry,  47 ;  KUlings- 
worth,  48;  Guilford,  and  New  Haven,  49;    observation  upon 
New  Haven,  49  to  59  ;  sets  out  for  New  York,  61 ;   arrives  at 
Stratford  ferry,  Fairfield  and  Norwalk,  Gl ;  Rye,  62 ;  New 
Rochelle  and  New  York,  63 ;  description  of  New  York,  66  to 
70  ;  goes  from  New  York,  71 ;  reaches  Eastchester,  72  ;  New 
Rochelle,  73  ;  Mamaroneck,  ih.  ;  Horseueck,  74 ;  Norwalk  and 
Fairfield,   75 ;  mode  of  paying  parson's   salary,  76 ;     passes 
through  Stratford  and  stays  at  Milford,  77;   and  arrives  at 
New  Haven,  79 ;  goes  from  New  Haven  to  New  London,  81 ; 
crosses  to  Groton,  82 ;  and  goes  to  Stonington  and  to  Havens', 
ih.;  arrives  at  Dedham  and  at  Boston,  84. 
Knight,  Richard,  husband  of  :Madam  Knight,  his  business,  his  for- 
mer marriage,  his  death  abroad,  v. 
Knight  of  the  Oracle,  22. 
Latimer's,  Miss,  road  leading  by,  47. 
Lean  to,  24. 
Lecture  days,  52. 

12 


90  Index. 

Liveen  -will,  the,  CO. 

Livingston,  Col.  Jolui,  married  to  Elizabctli  Kniglit,  vii ;  purcha- 
ser of  laud,  viii;  his  farm,  ix;  his  former  wife,  81;  his  resi- 
dence and  death,  ib. 

Luist,  Capt.  Robert,  accompanies  Madam  Knight  to  Dedham,  19,85. 

McCoon's  mills,  26. 

Marriages  at  an  early  age,  53 ;  singular  custom  at,  ib. 

Mascachuge  river,  hazardous  crossing  of,  29. 

Mather,  Hannah,  became  the  owner  of  Madam  Knight's  house,  vi. 

Mather,  Increase,  vii. 

Mather,  Samuel,  scholar  of  Madam  Knight,  vi. 

Maxon,  Jesse,  town  clerk  of  Westerly,  39. 

Maxwell,  William  P.,  his  house,  33. 

Milford,  77. 

Mosaic  law  the  rule  for  courts,  51. 

Muscheetoes,  41. 

Narragausett  country,  29 :  controversy  as  to  the  meaning  of,  34. 

Neale,  Thomas,  received  letters  patent  for  establishing  a  post 
office,  19. 

New  Haven,  49 ;  laws  and  church  government  of,  49 ;  character 
of  the  people,  ib.;  the  strictness  ofthe  laws,  50;  amusements,  52; 
marriages,  53 ;  oysters,  ib.;  indulgence  to  slaves,  54 ;  Indian 
customs,  55  ;  mode  of  traffic,  56. 

New  London  ferry,  arrival  at,  account  of,  43. 

New  York,  description  of,  66 ;  style  of  building,  67 ;  fort,  68  ;  ar- 
rival of  Lord  Cornbury,  68  ;  Churches  in,  ib. ;  character  and 
dress  ofthe  people,  69;  diversions,  70. 

Niantic  river,  crossing  at,  46. 

Norwalk,  the  derivation  ofthe  name,  61 ;  bridge  at,  75. 

Oysters,  abundance  of,  53. 

Papillion,  Peter,  purchaser  of  Madam  Knight's  house,  vi. 

Paper,  price  of,  66. 

Parade  at  New  London,  44. 

Parisnius,  by  Edward  Forde,  22. 

Pawcatuc  bridge,  26 ;  river,  riding-over  place  at,  39. 
Pawtuxet,  river  at,  26. 

Pequot  road,  26. 

Piecesofeight,  20,  21,56. 


Index.  ,       91 

Pierpout,  Rev.  James,  80. 
Point  Judith  salt  ponds,  3G. 

Polly, ,  and  his  daughter,  43. 

Post,  the  western,  its  route,  19  ;  where  met,  35. 

Post  office  established,  19  ;  chief  in  Connecticut,  25. 

Potter,  E.  E.,  26. 

Poverty  of  a  family,  40. 

Prentis,  Mrs.  John,  her  tavern,  45. 

Prout,  Capt.  John,  G3;  his  marriage,  81. 

Providence  ferry,  26,  85. 

Punctuation  of  the  journal,  17. 

Quakers,  21 ;  meeting  house  in  New  York,  69 ;  singing,  77. 

Reding,  showing  the  way  to,  24. 

Richards,  Capt.  John,  83. 

Riverhead  of  the  Niantic,  47. 

Rogers,  Samuel,  81. 

Rogerenes,  the,  81. 
Rope  ferry  over  Niantic,   46. 

Route  through  Rhode  Island,  26 ;  through  Stonington,  42 ;  to  Say- 
brook,  47. 
Sad-colored,  meaning  of,  24. 

Saltonstall,  Rev.  Gurdon,  when  born,  ordained  and  chosen  gover- 
nor, 45  ;  his  death  and  character,  ih.  ;  his  house,  ib.,  81. 

Saugatuck  river,  75. 

Saxton,  Capt.  Joseph,  formerly  of  Boston,  his  house,  42. 

Saybrook  ferry,  47. 

Seats  in  the  "meeting-house"  how  assigned,  viii. 

Shaw's  riding-over  place,  39. 

Shooting  at  the  target,  52. 

Slaves,  anecdote  about,  51;  indulgence  towards,  53;  arbitration 
with,  54. 

Spelling,  the  original  preserved,  17. 

Stonington,  the  route  through,  43. 

Stratford  ferry,  61,  77. 

Sugar  loaf  hill,  36. 

Taxes,  paid  in  wheat,  56. 

Tiles,  use  of,  in  houses,  67. 

Trade,  how  carried  on,  56. 


92      »  Index. 

Training  days,  52. 

Trarice,  Elizabeth,  motlier  of  Madam  Knight,  iv ;  her  death  and 

gravestone,  v. 
Travel,  increased  speed  of,  xii. 
Trowbridge,  Caleb,  Madam  Knight  a  witness  to  papers  on  the 

settlement  of  his  estate,  x. 
Trowbridge,  Thomas,  his  birth,  Gl ;  his  parents,  81» 
Tower  hill,  26,  35,  36. 
Updike,  Lodowick,  his  house  where  situated,  33  ;  Madam  Knight 

passes  near  it,  39. 
Vendue  in  New  York,  66,  69. 
Vesey,  William,  clergyman  in  New  York,  68. 
Wakefield,  26,  36. 
Wampom  used  for  change,  56. 
Webb,  Joseph,  clergyman  at  Fairfield,  76. 
Wedding  Place,  the,  70. 
Wetmore,  Mrs.  Ichabod,  x. 
Wheeler  house  in  New  London,  46. 

Wheeler,  Joshua,  Madam  Knight's  guide  to  New  Haven,  46,  49. 
Wickford,  26. 
Winthrop,ritz-John,  Governor  ofConnecticut,  his  popularity  and 

character,  80. 
Winthrop,  Mary,  wife  of  Col.  Livingston,  her  death  and  burial,  82. 
Wyer,  William,  85. 


